The term 'work to live, not live to work' has long been a phrase used to remind people about the importance of achieving a good work-life balance.
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But now there is a new phrase we need to consider to ensure the same - Working from home, or living at work?
Since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic many people have stepped away from the office and are now working from home.
That is not necessarily a problem. In fact anyone who had previously traveled long distances to the office each day would no doubt be truly appreciative of their new working situation.
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No commute, no traffic and no need to get up excessively early just to get to work on time.
Without the need to travel many people have found more time for productivity in their day.
The big challenge is to maintain a balance between working and not working when the line between work hours and after hours have become blurred.
The space that was once your escape from the grind of the office, has now become your office. The concept of the work day has infiltrated in to home and family time.
Checking your emails, and maybe even responding to those email, before you go to bed doesn't seem like too much of a problem. Does it?
What about the lunch break you have while continuing to work? You convince yourself you will finish earlier that day, but do you?
And then there are those tasks you tend to on your days off. You convince yourself they won't take long and will make your life easier when you are back at work.
That may be true, but it is undoubtedly also true that with that task out of the way you will have time to do other work projects when you are back in your 'work hours.'
You didn't even see it coming, but guess what, you are now living at work.
Every business loves a conscientious worker, but make sure you separate home and work time, even if your work takes place at home.
Finding the balance is important to your long term well-being.