Blurred Boundaries: How the Pandemic Impacted Work and Home Life

The pandemic came out of left field, faster than anyone could have predicted, and transformed the way the world operated overnight.

What was originally predicted to be a one-to-two-week shut-down ended up lasting for months. With that extended order to remain at home, many companies had to pivot how they conducted business operations. Enter into the chatroom the massive shift from office work to work from home.

As remote work became the new norm for many people, the lines between work life and home life became exceptionally blurred. It may have seemed harmless at the time, but there are some potentially negative impacts from that transition.

Everything Happens at Home

Historically for many, the home environment was where personal and social matters took place. Work was handled outside of the home. With the shift from office to remote work, the home became a catch-all for every aspect of life.

The kitchen table became a home office, in addition to being the dinner spot. The couch was a space for relaxation, but was also where video calls were conducted.

Home life suddenly became a little less relaxed due to the addition of the work atmosphere. Work also became a bit more relaxed due to the space it was being conducted in. Much of that dynamic has remained as life has attempted to transition back to some semblance of normal. Many companies have chosen to keep remote work as a full-time option, or at least some hybrid version.

Longer Work Hours

Once many people started working remotely, the workday experienced a subtle yet important change. There was no longer a commute to account for, nor was there time needed to be fully presentable the way you would be if you were going into the office.

Since work became a bit more accessible, there was a tendency to work longer hours. Whether it was employers giving off an “always on” vibe or employees feeling like they could check in on their computer quickly during off hours, the work-life balance line became blurred.

Working more hours, even in the comfort of your own home, takes away from your valuable personal time. Even if you don’t notice it right away, it will eventually lead to burnout and then your productivity can take a hit.

More Flexible Hours

Not every change that came from the pandemic was completely negative. Many people found opportunities to make their workdays more flexible. There was some ability to schedule work hours around personal commitments or family needs, especially if childcare was an issue.

While this did allow some to find a better work-life balance, it also blurred the lines of the typical workday. If your workday falls outside of the typical designated 8 hours, it can lead to longer working hours. Alternatively, in some instances that blurred line can also lead to shorter hours. Not having a hard and fast boundary can also create anxiety.

Mental Health Impact

Bringing work and home life so close together created some stressful family dynamics. For those with families, there was confusion about where roles and dynamics started and ended. The added stress often led to more conflict.

For many, that transition to remote work led to feelings of isolation. The water cooler talk, the interactions at the elevator or in passing in the hallway, and the face-to-face meetings carried a lot more significance than anyone truly realized.

Blurring or dissolving the boundary between work and home also created a lot of stress due to the inability to leave work for the day. Even if you shut your laptop at the end of your shift, there’s still an aura of work that follows you around and leads to mental fatigue.

If you feel like your work and home life balance is out of balance, it’s important to re-establish that boundary. Therapy for professionals is one option to help with that. During sessions, we can develop methods to establish healthy habits and coping strategies for when stress starts to take over.

Would you like to learn more? Reach out to us to set up a consultation.