A psychiatrist shares 5 tips for calming anxiety and easing the transition back to in-office work

“It’s expected to feel more tired as you adjust to new routines, even if they’re ‘old’ pre-pandemic routines,” says Dr. Rachelle Scott.

As offices reopen across the nation, some employees are hesitant about going back to in-person work. Getty Images

By Nick Dauk

Many employers throughout the United States are asking their employees to return to the workplace. Unfortunately, concerns about the ongoing pandemic have created a dilemma for many: return to work and potentially risk the health of their families, or stay home and potentially risk the financial stability of their households.

In June, more than 6% of workers say they would quit their jobs if told to go back to the office for a full work week.

Dr. Rachelle Scott is the medical director of psychiatry at Eden Health, a direct-to-employer medical care provider, where she works with 40,000 employees across more than 100 employers. Over the past few months, she and her staff have seen more patients in therapy who’ve shared health and safety concerns about returning to in-person work.

Here are Dr. Scott’s top five tips for how employees anxious to return to work can ease their transition back into the office.