A friend recently bemoaned to me, “Quitting time doesn’t seem to exist anymore.” She’s not alone. Most newly remote employees struggle with work/life balance.
People working from home log nearly an hour more each day than when they worked in an office, a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research recently found.
But HR professionals and direct managers, who probably also face a work/life imbalance, can help – especially when working from home feels a lot like sleeping at work!
“Our work/life balance is already in jeopardy thanks to the impact of COVID-19,” says Jackie Gaines, author of Wearing the Yellow Suit: A Guide for Women in Leadership. “Extended workdays only intensify the situation. If you’re not careful, meeting your work demands in this chaotic environment can crowd out your other priorities.”
The perfect 50/50 balance remains elusive. Some days work demands more time and attention. Other days, life gets the bulk of our time and attention.