Page 40 - IntraMuros November 2021
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LIFESTYLE


































                   WORKING FROM HOME FATIGUE




                                              By Nicoleen Davies, Life Talk Forum


             he  world  of  work  has  changed   are generally experiencing longer working   For those who require training, mentoring
             dramatically over the past two years   days, with days starting earlier and ending   and  supervision  to  grow  in  their  roles,
        Tand we all have to adapt, showcasing   later  because  you  are  home.  Boundaries   remote working will be challenging.
        the resilience of human nature.      become very important to counter this.
                                                                                  Work from home fatigue defined
        The reality is working as a grudge activity   For many, working at home is a challenge.   Fatigue can be mental or physical by nature
        but  an  essential  one.  When  we  were  all   Not every home is a happy home and that   and  obviously  both  can  apply.  Physically,
        office  bound,  we  complained  about  the   is a big factor. For many, the workplace or   sitting for long periods because there are less
        long hours, the commute, the stress, being   school environment is an escape from their   distractions can cause back, neck and wrist
        exhausted  and  having  no  time.  COVID-19   home-life reality, so that is undoubtedly a   pain,  even  eye  strain.  The  mental  fatigue
        forced  us  to  stay  home,  work  remotely   huge challenge.             generally presents as a lack of motivation,
        and adapt to a new way of working. Some                                   of  feeling  disconnected  or  isolated;  being
        people love it, others don’t, but “Working   In  traditional  workspaces  everyone  has   moody, feeling lonely and generally being
        from Home Fatigue” (WFH Fatigue) is a new   the  same  environment  but  for  virtual  co-  unhappy  with  your  working  environment.
        reality. Work fatigue has shifted from the   workers, this can be completely different.   Another  cause  of  home  burnout  includes
        office to the home.                  Issues  arise,  such  as  lack  of  privacy  or   a  lack  of  boundaries  between  work  and
                                             personal  space,  through  having  to  share   home life and being overworked as a result.
        Personally,  I  side  with  the  people  who   space  with  family  members.  Being  de-  Many  also  experience  a  disconnection
        enjoy  it  because  of  the  benefits.  The   energised  to  work  from  home  could  be   from  their  peers  and  need  the  structure
        flexibility has reduced the business of life   directly linked to the environment.  of the workplace. These symptoms can be
        with  less  rushing  about;  we  see  more  of                            transient in nature or a sign of burnout.
        each other in the home, and from a pure   We are all different too. People with internal
        work  perspective,  the  days  feel  more   motivation  are  generally  self-starters  and   An  additional  remote  working  stress
        productive because time is used effectively   just get on with the job at hand, generally   factor  could  be  not  being  visible  in  the
        with no passage ‘chitchats’, no time wasted   enjoying flexibility and will cope well with   workplace, presenting as feeling insecure
        walking  between  meetings,  no  extended   remote  working.  Others  are  externally   about one’s job.
        lunch or coffee breaks. Not having to spend   motivated  and  need  the  office  work-life
        hours  in  traffic  translates  into  reduced   structure, with managers and processes to   Adjusting  to  relying  on  technology  to
        stress and gives one more time (and family   direct  their  daily  activities,  allowing  little   communicate  and  collaborate  for  day-
        time)  in  the  day.  On  the  other  hand,  we   flexibility, to function best.   to-day  work  has  also  been  a  challenge.


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