In an era when
work has quietly entered our homes and personal spaces after the advent of Covid,
it has become increasingly difficult to delineate where and when work ends and
personal life begins. Without a clear physical boundary to highlight that
transition, often we wander aimlessly in a purgatory of switching seamlessly
from workspace in our laptops to YouTube videos in an instant. We lament that there
is no time. We yearn for the closure of switching off our laptops and coming
home to relax.
It is important to
know what we are capable of and what we require to start setting those
boundaries up. Self awareness is key. Some important questions to ask ourselves
are: 1. How many hours do I want to work? 2. How many hours do I need to rest,
play, and relax? 3. How many hours do I want to spend with my friends and family?
The answers will vary from individual to individual and that uniqueness needs
to be valued. For example, I am a morning person and require at least seven
hours of sleep so I am off to bed by 10 pm and get up at 5 am so I can have a
productive day ahead. I do not take up
any work that would jeopardize that.
Another important
point to ponder about is the extent to which we want to engage with the digital
world – when, where, and how? Once we have some clarity about our needs, we are
well on our way to creating boundaries. For example, I do not use my digital
devices on Sundays or after 7 pm most of the time unless it is an emergency.
When we have an
idea what are needs and feelings are about how, when and where we want to work,
it is up to us to implement that in our lives. We can use our creativity and
look for options that support our choices. When we honor who we are, work and
life will fall into place harmoniously.
