Lost in a World Between Work and Home: Is our Love of Craft Making us Home Sick?

Blending the cosmic and the creepy, Rhode Island born writer Howard Phillips Lovecraft, better known as H.P. Lovecraft (b. 1890 - d. 1937), used his Providence neighborhood of College Hill as an ordinary setting for many of his weird, sci-fi infused tales of other worldly terror. One short story, "The Shunned House", stands out not just for its eerie atmosphere, but for how surprisingly relevant it is our relationship with remote work – whether from home full or part-time. How can a house—usually a sanctuary—become a source of dread and unease? And, what how does this mixing of worlds affect to our professional and personal lives?

"The Shunned House," for those who haven't read it, tells the story of a man and his uncle who become obsessed with a house on College Hill, that is cursed by tragic occurrences and unexplained deaths. This house, based on an actual home built in 1764 at 135 Benefit Street, is a perfect metaphor for how our homes, now doubled as workplaces, might start to seem a bit . . . menacing and all consuming. Isn't it strange how the rooms where we once relaxed are now the same rooms where deadlines loom and Microsoft Teams calls haunt our peace?

If you consider the “The Shunned House” protagonist's obsessive investigation into the house’s sordid past. Is it much different from our own inability to log off, the continuous scrolling through emails, or the third eye we keep on e-mails, texts, Teams chat messages, and other notifications even during dinner? Just as the house's history consumes the protagonist, so too can work seep into our personal lives, turning what should be a refuge into a source of stress and anxiety. How often have you found yourself unable to escape the grip of work, feeling as though your living room has turned into a demanding beast who never knows when to call it a day?

Lovecraft describes the house's chilling effects on its occupants, leading us to ask: when do we start noticing the toll our home offices take on our own health? The protagonist notices a "fungous whiteness" on the walls, much like the blurring boundaries between our professional and personal lives that start showing in our own homes. Are we not, like the uncle in the story, slowly succumbing to the unhealthy pallor of the white light from our laptop screens?

What of the night the main characters spend in the basement, armed with scientific equipment to confront the cosmically supernatural energies? This episode could very well mirror our own late nights spent wrestling with spreadsheets or preparing presentations—those hours when the rest of the world sleeps but we remain tethered to our tasks, haunted by the need to be productive. Is this not a form of madness? Who among us hasn't felt a creeping dread, a sense that perhaps we've dug too deep into our work, ignoring the eerie signs that it's time to step away?

In the climax of Lovecraft’s tale, the protagonist unleashes a flood of sulfuric acid to cleanse the house of its horrors. Sometimes, don't we wish for a similar solution? A quick fix to wash away the encroaching demands of work, to reclaim the sanctity of our personal space? Yet, unlike in the short story, there is no acid strong enough to dissolve the endless emails and the ever-growing task lists. We must find subtler, steadier ways to exorcise the work that haunts our homes.

Perhaps the real lesson from "The Shunned House" is about setting boundaries, as tangible as the walls of the eerie dwelling itself. It reminds us that without clear separation, without marking where work ends and personal life begins, our homes can become places of perpetual discomfort rather than peace. Lovecraft, in his unique, twisted way, serves as an unexpected guide for the modern professional. Could it be that sometimes, we need to step out of our cellars, leave our makeshift offices, and simply close the door behind us?

Taking cues from Harvard’s 85-Year Happiness Study, we understand that happiness hinges on connection, deep relationships, community, physical health, and mental health (I’ve taken liberties renaming the categories so they are easier to understand and apply to the broadest readership). But, how do we achieve these in a world where the boundaries between work and home blur like the mists of a Lovecraftian tale?

Connection: A Fading Echo

In Lovecraft's narrative, the protagonists become consumed by their historical research on the house, much like how we can be swallowed by endless Teams meetings and emails. The key is setting boundaries; designate a 'work zone' and strictly schedule work hours to maintain a connection with your home as a place of rest and rejuvenation, not just labor. Most importantly, block time off on your calendar for breaks from meetings to complete the work you need to do without having to sacrifice personal time.

Deep Relationships: Beyond the Haunted Walls

The characters in "The Shunned House" isolate themselves with their obsession, paralleling how remote work can isolate us from colleagues and loved ones. To counteract this, it's vital to engage in regular, meaningful interactions with others, whether through virtual coffee breaks or by safely gathering outside work hours, to strengthen these crucial bonds. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, out connection to our teammates should not be the all-too-important spreadsheet we deliver, but the time we spend talking and getting to know each other.

Community: An Anchor in the Mist

Lovecraft’s characters often face their horrors alone, but we needn’t do the same with our daily toils. Building a sense of community, even virtually, can provide support and alleviate the feelings of isolation that might haunt our workdays. Engage in community-building activities, from online forums about shared interests to neighborhood groups to volunteerism to causes you believe in.

Physical Health: The Foundation Crumbles

Just as the physical structure of the Shunned House reveals its ghastly nature, our physical environment at home can significantly impact our health. Investing in a proper ergonomic setup and making time for regular exercise are as crucial as the foundations of a sturdy, unhaunted house. Without your health, you cannot perform at your best, so make time for doctor’s appointments, dental check-ups, and preparing healthy meals. If nothing else, take time to enjoy the Spring air and go for a walk.

Mental Health: Clearing the Air

The eerie atmosphere of Lovecraft’s house mirrors the mental fog that can envelop us when work and personal life collide uncontrollably. Maintaining mental health means stepping away from the desk, practicing mindfulness or meditation, and ensuring we have downtime to clear the mental cobwebs. Don’t be afraid to use your medical benefits to see a mental health professional or tap into your employer’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Famously, H.P. Lovecraft demanded that the words "I am Providence" be etched on his grave; Lovecraft’s home of Providence was both a source of inspiration and misery. It should serve as a warning. We must not anchor our identity to our home and work but to the more important things, as intangible as they are, that provide us true happiness. As much as we draw from our physical homesteads to shape our lives, let us also shape those spaces to protect and elevate our well-being, ensuring that our homes remain sanctuaries, not places of haunting. In doing so, we detach from work—not with the dread of Lovecraft’s characters, but with the assurance that we are building healthier lives personally and professionally by devoting time for deep relationships, community, physical health, and mental well-being.

Post Script

H.P. Lovecraft was known for his ethnocentric views and prejudices against various ethnicities, including the French, if you should read "The Shunned House". He held a deep-seated belief in the superiority of Anglo-Saxon culture, which often manifested as disdain or mistrust towards other ethnic groups. This prejudice was evident in his writings, where he sometimes depicted non-Anglo-Saxon cultures in a negative light.

Lovecraft may have been shaped by historical and geopolitical tensions. Lovecraft lived during a period marked by World War I and its aftermath, during which anti-German sentiment and racial tensions were prevalent in the United States. There may have been lingering cultural stereotypes and animosities towards different peoples and nationalities, including other European nations like France.

It's important to note that Lovecraft's views were products of his time and upbringing, and they do not reflect modern perspectives on cultural diversity and inclusivity. While his prejudices are evident in some of his writings, Lovecraft's literary legacy is celebrated for his contributions to the horror genre, rather than his personal beliefs.

This is why I love the book and show "Lovecraft Country". Both serve to subvert his prejudice in favor of tales that favor the African-American perspective, preserving the brilliance of his writing and relegating the worst aspects of his personality to the dustbin of history.