In this summer vacation period, perhaps you are one of those who have taken a good resolution to disconnect. Say goodbye to a few weeks of emails, contacts via calls or SMS, especially if they have to do with work. Establishing a clear boundary between your private life and your professional life is essential for good mental health according to health experts, but also for harmony in family life. A study carried out by the Polytechnic Institute and State University of Virginia, in the United States, suggests that the simple action of sending emails outside of working hours can harm relationships with loved ones. This amounts to submitting to “work without borders”, in other words letting your superiors think that you are available at all times. To effectively demonstrate the negative impact of zeal, the researchers administered a questionnaire to 297 employees of the American university to determine their general state of health. They discovered that everyone had different levels of anxiety that could have devastating consequences. A majority of them acknowledged that their stress level rose rapidly when work time and private time overlapped. Worse still, the tasks that some accept to perform at home also create anxiety in the partner and other family members who are the first witnesses to the unwillingness to put up barriers in the person concerned.
“Our study reflects a reality:“working with flexible borders” often turns into “working without borders”, impacting the well-being and health of the employee and his family says research co-author William Becker. To avoid generating stress or even burnout, the scientist suggests that employers be transparent in job advertisements and notify whether or not the employee must respond to their emails at any time. If this is the case, then it is necessary to establish clear schedules as to the hours of the day/evening when the employee no longer has to do it and can take time for him (and above all avoid thinking what he misses by not going to check his email every 10 minutes). Becker also advises trying meditation, which not only allows you to relax but also learns to be fully present in the moments that matter, such as those you share with your significant other and your children. Store the positive as much as possible, in other words… Back to school is fast approaching so we try to remember these precious tips. Good luck to everyone for the recovery!
