What Has Been the Impact of Pandemic-Induced Remote Work on Home Life Boundaries?
Prior to March 2020, working from home was not unusual but certainly not the norm. In the blink of an eye, workers all across the world have gone remote. What started as three weeks to flatten the curve has ended up creating a seismic shift in how global business is done. Meanwhile, however, there are some major impacts on a micro level.
Sure, there’s no commute and minimal need to dress up, but some interesting developments have emerged in the past three-plus years. It would not be inaccurate to file most of them under the category of “home-work-life boundaries.”
The Ups and Downs of Tech
We live in an age where we have the technological tools to make remote work happen smoothly. Simply put, this change could not have happened just ten or twenty years ago. In 2020, since most people already had a home computer and a smartphone, they essentially had all they needed in advance.
But, as so many folks are learning, technology exacts a toll. It can dominate our lives and atomize our communities. In the context of remote work, the exact high-tech tools that make it possible can often make it overwhelming. It used to be that when you punched out for the day, you left work behind.
Today, the boundaries between work, home, and life are blurred. You might even call them non-existent. The workday never seems to end. After all, if you are always accessible, when do you get to enjoy “free” time?
Some of the Negative Impacts of Work-From-Home
A reduction in personal recovery time
Emails, texts, and phone calls never stop arriving
You lose the social benefits of working alongside colleagues
Feeling distracted and unmotivated
While you’re not spending time on a commute, you are working longer hours
Longer hours mean less time for child-rearing, domestic chores, and cultivating personal interests
In a more philosophical or even spiritual sense, you run the risk of losing a special connection to your home. It might have once been viewed as a sanctuary — a place where memories are created. Now, it’s also an office without clear-cut hours. If you live with a partner, the home could be two offices in one. When kids are involved, the entire dynamic can become confusing.
All that said, the pandemic-induced remote work shift is not without its advantages.
Some of the Positive Impacts of Work-From-Home
Kiss that jam-packed, pricey commute goodbye
You spend less money on clothes, food, and childcare
You’re not tied to living in a specific region
Flexible work hours
Custom workspace
Choosing healthy meals and taking exercise breaks
Being available for family members and pets
So, What About Those Home-Life Boundaries?
Here are a few suggestions for keeping things as balanced as you can:
Allow for sufficient wake-up time in the morning before you log in
Set as regular a work routine as you can
Take all allowed breaks —including a legitimate lunch break
Get outside, if possible, on breaks
Talk to management about setting a firm end-of-the-workday time
Mark the end of each workday with a positive ritual before moving into the rest of your day
If remote work feels like it is in control of your life, ask for help. Start with your supervisor and co-workers. You may lose a sense of teamwork by working alone. Working together to keep things healthy is an excellent way to get some of that vibe back.
Also, you can ask for professional help. Therapists are trained to help people going through dramatic changes in their lives. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Support and guidance are available. Reach out if you are ready to learn more about work-stress therapy.