DURBAN - Lockdown has thrown everyone’s work-life balance off-kilter; a recent survey revealed that 60 percent of people work longer hours than they want and 24 percent say it’s hard to relax and not think about work.
A poor work-life balance can lead to stress, depression and even burnout with 22 percent saying their job exhausts them and 22 percent under excessive work pressure.
With most people doing more work than usual during the lockdown, Counselling Psychologist Rakhi Beekrum says working from home has caused boundaries to be blurred.
“Many are working longer hours because they can or their bosses expect that they are available. Usually travelling to and from work allows us to switch between work and home mode, but working from home blurs the boundary.
On the other hand, work is often a distraction from stress. When we are busy and occupied, it means we are spending less time consciously worrying about the virus and how our lives have changed as a result,” she said.
According to a recent survey by the South African Psychology Association, being overworked weakens your immune system which is one of the last things you will want to happen during a pandemic.
Beekrum also added that
balance is important and we need balance work, rest, family time and alone time for our well being.
“We need to stick to a routine, work at designated times (in a designated workspace at home) and switch off at a certain time. Work only in a designated space and leave that space at the end of the workday. Do not take your work to other parts of the home otherwise, it will be difficult to relax,” she said.
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