"Hey, do you have a minute?" Since working from home, it's a question I see pop up in my work chats, emails and even text messages at an increasing rate. The question instantly lead to anxiety. Most of the time, no, I don't have a minute at that very minute. And yet I still almost always respond yes and disrupt my work day. Why? The answer may have to do with the complete lack of control many of us feel over our work schedules since the pandemic began. As I discussed recently with burnout expert Jennifer Moss, the sudden shift to remote work hardly brought with it the flexibility we once thought working from home would. Instead, now your colleagues are in many ways at the whim of your “flexible schedule”and you’re at the whim of theirs. The result? None of us have flexible schedules anymore. Not really. I want to hear from you: Do you feel pressure to instantly be responsive to messages from colleagues? Has working from home made you feel like your schedule is more or less flexible? What would need to change for you to feel like you have more control over your job? Let me know in the comments below or email me at [email protected].
Debbie Boles
3 年
As a person with a 45 minute commute each way, I feel like this time at home has been an answer to my prayers. I save about two hours a day, wear and tear on my vehicle, gas and maintenance, and have felt like I get more accomplished. Imagine exploring career resources and teaching students and alumni how to update their documents while providing virtual guidance comfortably from my home office. Students and alumni obtain hands-on experience while going through the process of career exploration from their computer. With the populations that I serve, many students and alumni like the flexibility in my schedule. While working from home, I can have a more flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the working adults by providing extended hours for appointments and virtual programs until 6:00 pm or later. On the days, I stay longer, I can adjust my schedule to begin later, while working to strike a balance with the people that need it. With that being said, we have had to learn to compromise while working at home. My recently retired husband has had the house to himself until March 2020. We have worked to find a rhythm that works for both of us. My hope is that we can continue with a hybrid schedule once it is safe to return.
Penny Bisson
3 年
Thanks for sharing
Oh, gosh, YES!!! I struggle with blocking time so I can do my own work. I work for a small company, but some days, there’s literally a line at my door. Add to that, I took on accounts payable in 11/19, then got a promotion, so I don’t feel like I can give anything the attention it deserves, so everything suffers. I disappoint my boss, myself, and the rest of the team. It’s like a hamster wheel I can’t get off.
Christy Allen
3 年
Thank you for asking this question.
We all have the same situations currently. The way we are facing and try to be at our best are depending on how we will treat ourselves; to be the winner or looser. Firstly, we have to be aware and accept; this is the facts...then we create mindset; let’s move on. Secondly, sprinkle our minds with positive energy and stay our mood in positive level. These will affect to our happiness as one of the things to courage our passion; passion will build a belief, trust and let’s do together as a team.
John Lenhart
3 年
Self-Care only temporarily puts off the inevitable crash. Here is how over 100 people had their best year ever during a pandemic because the REAL help happens after Self-Care: https://youtu.be/W6ThoVJ3Uco?
Kiran Surve
3 年
Very True
Suresh Kumar D
3 年
As an employee, the workload has #increased, #WFH is considered a blessing for many actually it has increased more #trouble - #Children #Parents, #workpressure all at one shot. Children's #education and taking care of them has increased, unlike #Adults, we can't contain them for long, their #mentalpressure #increases then comes #Education - #online - again not for all, some cant concentrate. With #WFH you cant take holidays easily cant say sick leave now, how will release your mental pressure and rejuvenate yourself?
--
3 年I think