Working at Home? Unwind and Avoid Collapse
By Sandy Schroeder
Many of us have worked at home throughout the pandemic and just accepted the inevitable issues of blending work, home and family. We knew there would be a little spilled milk, and sure enough there was!
At my house, keeping pets, neighbors and my job separate has been an amusing challenge. You probably have your own stories about kids, deadlines, and important calls all played out in a 24/7 existence.
Now writers are asking what can happen when we never disconnect from our jobs in a 24/7 situation. Before the pandemic, most of us knew someone who worked long hours at the office and then took more work home and stayed on call. That 24/7 existence inevitably created problems for many..
Now we may be seeing different versions of the same thing. Some companies may use the accessibility to get more work done faster, but the results are not always good.
Individuals simply fold - When they have to serve meals, take care of kids, and produce a day's work, something is bound to snap. Many times the individual who is trying to do it all while still smiling pays the price.
Working 40-plus hours doesn't work - Researchers say the extra hours can impact the physical and mental health of an individual. There is simply less time to relax, enjoy meals and family time, and take care of individual needs.
New symptoms emerge - After a year of working at home, many individuals are reporting mental fatigue, depression, loneliness, vision problems or muscle complaints.
Back and neck pain have increased - Inadequate desks and chairs, work around the clock, lack of exercise and poor posture have all conspired to create tightness, stiffness and soreness that just will not go away.
If you can relate to all of these issues, it may be time to avoid burnout by creating some new schedules and drawing a line between work and the rest of your life.
- Keep a daily journal to track work hours to restructure them
- Start inserting blocks of time in the morning and afternoon to take real breaks.
- Shut down your laptop and step away in the evening
- Start making family dinners a way of life
- Bring back some favorite hobbies or sports
- Make sure you get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day
- If you plan to continue to work at home upgrade your home office equipment
- Get outside every day whenever you can
You know when you are exhausted or on the edge of collapsing and you know when your kids are upset. Pay attention to yourself and the issues in your family and get help whenever you need it.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Universal City, Tex.