Mill Island - Kaiaraara is the site of the first working mill in Russell, New Zealand.
I have returned to work after two and half years of treatment and recovery. It feels like I have been away from school for a very long time, and while I was away everyone learnt long division. I notice there is changes, in people, plans and processes.
It is not easy for anyone who has had a life threatening cancer experience. Even more of a challenge to try to regain full participation in life. Although that is the goal of many, and the feature of survivorship plans, it is harder than some might think. There is some good advice online on how to approach a return to work. You can see the links below.
There are physical challenges in working in an office on a computer. After two forearm grafts, I am conscious I need to protect my wrists. Traveling to work has its own complications. Do I drive and deal with peak hour traffic? Do I take a few more minutes and adopt the pace of public transport, and maintain those walking miles?
By far the greatest challenge is social. Returning to work means meeting up with people from the past and meeting new people. Whenever there is social interaction, there are challenges. What to say? What not to say? How to explain the past and the present? Honesty is always the best policy, but it has to be appropriate. So adopting an "I am well but I have my limitations" approach.
I have come up with three words to guide me in this return to work process. "Timeliness". After languishing at home, with no schedule and few demands, adopting at "get there on time" goal takes some work. No "sleepins". I have to work to the schedule I have agreed. I need to adopt a philosophy of preparedness to ensure success for the day ahead.
"Focus". To succeed at work, I have to put some of my usual thinking and activity away. I can return to them at the end of the work day. What is important is to do the job well. That takes commitment to concentrating on the tasks at hand. It means being active about reigning in distractions.
"Presence". Be committed and focused. As well as being there in body, I am there in mind and spirit. You can not take short cuts on presence, it honors your employer, your colleagues and clients.
Collaborative working is the secret to improved performance and productivity. We need to work together. So establishing trusting working relationships takes time. I am finding there is more time spent getting to know people and their projects than anything else. Time spent on building authentic, trusting relationships pays off in the long run. Everything becomes easier.
I have much to learn. I am delighted that the digital world is alive and well. My enthusiasm for technology remains, strengthened from my healthcare experiences. It help us improve our performance, and meet our goals. New software is much the same as old, a few buttons in different places.
I am receiving great help and support. I am sure I can learn long division, and you know, it might be one of the best things ever.
Sources for Support for Returning to Work
Cancer.net http://www.cancer.net/blog/2016-08/returning-work-after-cancer
Cancer.gov https://www.cancer.org/treatment/survivorship-during-and-after-treatment/staying-active/working-during-and-after-treatment/returning-to-work-after-cancer-treatment.html
Cancer+Careers http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/at-work/back-to-work-after-cancer/back-to-work
