How to Cope with the 24/7 Demands of Today’s Workplaces
When I started my career in the work world, there were no smartphones, no laptops (if you even had computers), no remote work and no being “on call” 24/7. It was a lot harder to reach workers when we weren’t in the office! Not so today. AI surveillance tools, cell phones, texting, email, workplace messaging systems and easy to transport laptops all have had the effect of us bringing work with us wherever we go. Many of our firm’s clients say the lines between work and home life are more blurred now than ever, making it feel impossible to hold to a normal “workday,” or to completely disconnect and take paid time off.
A recent Harris Poll found that 60% of employees struggled to fully disconnect away from work, with 86% saying they check emails from their boss, and 56% take work-related calls, during time off. Not surprisingly, many employees complain about the stress and burnout from the constant connectivity.
To be honest, without the support of the company’s top management, it’s not likely you can completely disconnect if the culture of your organization requires otherwise. That said, here are 4 tips you can try to preserve your sanity - and the line between work and time off:
- Notify all your clients via email weeks in advance of your pending days away, and ask if they can anticipate any needs to get those to you now so you have time to be responsive;
- Have a backup plan during your absence. Perhaps you and a colleague agree to cover for each other during absences, so that if you still check in daily, you only have to do so with one person versus returning every call or email
- Carve out specific daily family time and try to hold firm to it. The faces of your loved ones are so preferable to focusing on your screens! As a working parent, once I got home from work, I dedicated the entire time up until my children’s bedtimes to doing things with them. No returning work calls or messages. Then, after lights out, I could return to work matters as needed.
- Take care of your mental health to stave off the burnout. Simple things can make a big difference, like eating well, getting the sleep you need, planning fun activities, working out and expressing daily gratitude for what you have that is good in your life.
The things you can control in life are few: pretty much just your effort and your attitude. And your attitude truly affects everything. For example, I once worked for a terribly toxic boss, and I recall trying to find the positive in this terrible situation by saying, “Wow, she sure is teaching me a lot of things I never would have known or thought of!” Maybe you and your partner can laugh about the irony – and sharing together every night that for which you are grateful can go a long way toward making an otherwise stressful workplace tolerable.