Reading and responding to work messages on your personal phone can make you feel available to your team around the clock. This feeling increases if you download a collaborative application on your device. Responding to messages after work hours or sending a quick reply before morning coffee has become commonplace for many workers: a study conducted by Dropbox in collaboration with The Economist magazine showed that 63% of employees feel they should be available at all times.
Does a culture of continuous work lead to a more productive workplace?
Some reports suggest that a culture of continuous work does not actually lead to a more productive workplace. Tom Lineman, a consultant in leadership and team building, notes that the insight and focus needed to respond to an important message often do not come when you’re exhausted or in the middle of the night. “In fact, if you are responding to messages at unusual hours, it may signal to others that they should do the same. This can foster unhealthy competition among team members,” says Lineman. “It’s important to be present and attentive when you’re at work, but you cannot be at work all the time.”
The benefits of maintaining work-life balance
There are many proven benefits to maintaining a work-life balance. It’s better for your health. It leads to increased feelings of satisfaction and security at work. However, there is a continual culture, especially in North America, that suggests you should be excessively available to your job to gain real traction in your chosen field. This pressure is a recipe for burnout. This is reflected in the numbers: 77% of employees say they experience burnout in their current job, while 83% say that burnout negatively affects their personal relationships.
Tips to free yourself from the culture of continuous work
1. Effectively use status indicators and do not disturb mode: The same status indicators that indicate constant availability can also communicate when you’re not available. Most work applications and email systems have a do not disturb and sleep mode, allowing you to choose when to receive notifications. Although this adjustment may seem minor, it can significantly reduce your urge to respond to work messages during your personal time.
2. Take advantage of the “scheduled send” feature: By scheduling your messages to be sent during work hours, it means you won’t be sending notifications to people while they’re having dinner or after they’ve put on their pajamas, even if you’re the one who is working some overtime outside of regular hours. It’s very rare that there is any message you send that cannot wait until morning. If it’s truly urgent, opt for a phone call instead. By making scheduled emails and notifications the norm, it sets a good example for everyone in the workplace.
3. Own a separate device for personal and work use: Separate your work and personal life using different devices when possible. Having a different computer or phone for work helps keep work notifications separate from personal ones. If it’s not possible to have separate devices, try setting specific hours for work and personal activities on the same device. For example, designate it for work-related tasks during your official hours and switch to personal use afterward. This method helps create clear boundaries between your professional and personal time.
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Set personal boundaries and be consistent: Establishing a good work-life balance starts with setting boundaries for yourself and sticking to them. Recognizing behaviors that go beyond these boundaries is the next step. Alex Fox, an occupational therapist, emphasizes this point: “Do what you need to do to reduce work-related anxiety and stress, and also set boundaries with others – for example, that you will not respond to their messages outside certain hours.” Clear communication is crucial in a healthy workplace. It is important to discuss your duties and time with your manager openly, emphasizing that work should not spill into your evenings or weekends.
5. Establish a relaxation routine: The relaxation routine is not limited to activities you do before bedtime. It is a series of tasks you complete to end each workday, signaling to your mind that you are transitioning to “life,” which is particularly important in the age of working from home. This might include physically stepping out of your home office and closing the door. It might involve putting your computer aside in a designated place. It could even be a series of good physical exercises. An effective addition might be jotting down the key tasks you need to address first when returning to work. This gives you a better chance to start centered the next morning before the influx of messages and notifications.
In the end, the best way to stay focused may be to tackle distractions proactively.
Source: https://blog.dropbox.com/topics/work-culture/breaking-free-from-always-on-work-culture
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