Is it time to put up Boundaries?

During the height of the pandemic huge numbers of people began working from home. And while cubicles and boardrooms are now filling back up, it isn’t an everyday occurrence. A new hybrid model of office and home work has become the norm for many and with that?comes one huge benefit: less time commuting!

But has that really been a good thing?

Jerry Useem’s piece in?The Atlantic, “The Psychological Benefits of Commuting to Work,” makes the case that there are unseen advantages to the daily commute that many of us have taken for granted and that can help us establish a more healthy work/life balance.

So how is that annoying drive or ride to work actually beneficial?

It has to do with something known as Boundary Theory. We’ve all been encouraged to bring our “true selves” to the workplace, but the fact is, we have many authentic selves, it all depends on the situation. How you screamed during the Superbowl or at the latest episode of?Ru Paul’s Drag Race?is just as authentic as how you calmly led your weekly team meeting.?But we need time to transition from one version of ourselves into the other and this is where the commute comes in: it acts as a threshold (or boundary) to aid in this transition.?It allows us to mentally gear up for the day ahead and to decompress before we get back home. This means that we’re more ready to hit the ground running and perform better at work, and that we’re more present with our loved ones at home.

But what do you do if you no longer have to commute?

You can create your own boundaries to cross!?For example, instead of rolling out of bed, grabbing your coffee, and plopping down in front of the computer, go through the same routine as if you’re about to head to the office. That may mean making your lunch for the day, putting on some nicer clothes, or listening to a podcast. You can even take just two minutes to breathe deeply and mediate before you start your day. To end your day, you can walk around the block, change into some comfy clothes, or jot down your to-do list for the next day. Some people even throw a sheet over their computer to physically separate the temptation of work from their downtime.

So if you work from home full time, or even just one or two days a week, try to add some boundaries to your life.?And if you still have to commute to and from the office? Just sit back, relax, and remember: that time is psychologically valuable, even if at times it doesn’t feel like it.