Downtime Erosion

The term 'Downtime' is generally used for machines. But I came across this in the context of mental health deterioration among employees due to the rapidly changing work environment. And I found it very intriguing and relevant.

Its almost counter-intuitive that the work stress can actually possibly increase while working from home? Well, I'd keep the innocuous Husband-wife jokes apart :)

After all, we are saving on the commute time, can schedule desk work at our choicest hour and get quality time with loved ones which we used to so much yearn about.

Where lies the problem then, potentially?

One possible explanation can be the Downtime Erosion.

Even for the most devout workaholics among us, there's a very important physiological need to periodically switch-off and disconnect from work to repair those stretched mental muscles and regain capacity to work efficiently.

All those years of collective workplace conditioning had (most of) us hardwired to more or less draw this line around work time and leisure time. Leaving the office signified psychologically that you are done for the day, for better or for worse. It was an established way to feed and recharge the mental muscles by indulging in our favorite activity. Even a long commute to home after a busy day at office gave an opportunity to delve into a completely different world of may be a good educational podcast, an audio book or your favorite music.

That was the downtime, the maintenance time which has now slowly starting to deteriorate with fading lines between work and rest in the WFH set-up.

In the safety of our homes, its very easy to fall for the temptation to carry on with that late evening call and finish the agenda the same day. Lunch breaks may get omitted entirely when there is no lunch-mate loitering around your desk to force you into submission and get up for lunch and walk break. Exceptions are fine, but making this a norm can significantly impact the overall life balance and health.

Talking about avoiding situations of anxiety and breakdown in long term, it really helps to curate a coping mechanism and retain some non-negotiable time out for activities that have meditational effect on you. Find that activity, there must be something that tings you. Another suggestion that has almost become a cliche now is the importance of physical exercise and routine, it's importance can't be emphasized more.

So, do you also feel that you are not disconnecting often and enough? Whats your coping mechanism to get you going. Thoughts welcome.