Reclaiming Separation Between Work and Personal Life for a Healthier Lifestyle

What a change we’ve undergone. Looking back, our country and society are almost unrecognizable in many respects. A strong work ethic, pride in a job well done, and hard work used to be the hallmarks of America and our society, but that seems to have changed. And I don’t think it’s all our fault.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work became the norm for millions of employees worldwide. While this shift offered convenience and flexibility, it also blurred the lines between professional and personal lives, leading to increased stress and burnout. And it made many of us question the old way of working altogether.

As businesses reopen their physical offices, it’s time to reconsider the benefits of a dedicated workspace and the importance of establishing a healthy work-life balance. I mention this not because I’m stuck in the past and want to bring back 8-track tapes, but because the new model doesn’t seem to work.

I’m all for change and replacing the old ways with an updated method, I just have one criteria: That the new way or method is better than the old way or method. If it ain’t better, then we have to logically go back to what did work.

And if the new way turns out to actually be destructive, then wow, yes, we have to go back to what has worked for a few hundred years.

One of the serious challenges businesses face today is finding good employees and keeping them. Employee retention has been a common problem cited by many small business owners since 2020, and even before.

Even after partially bouncing back from the problems of 2020, small business owners are still facing challenges in finding and retaining good employees. According to a report from the Center for American Progress, turnover can cost anywhere from 16% to 213% of the lost employee’s salary, making it a significant expense for small businesses.

The Great Resignation has led to record numbers of U.S. workers voluntarily leaving their jobs, and over 4 million Americans had quit their jobs every month for 11 months straight as of April 2022. Small businesses face the additional challenge of contending with large corporations for top talent, with fewer resources to combat the issue.

So perhaps it’s time we discuss going back to work with both business owners and employees. Let’s at least have open discussions about it no matter what your opinions are on the matter.

Here’s how I see it:

The Pitfalls of Constant Remote Work

Lack of Boundaries

Working from home can make it challenging to separate work from personal time, leading to overwork and exhaustion.
Without a physical divide between office and home, it’s easy to feel “always on” and struggle to disconnect.
Gaining weight is also commonly stated as a negative side effect. I personally can attest to this. I sat at my desk at home for about 10 hours a day, then shuffled my feet to my sofa and watched TV for the rest of the evening before bed.

2. Increased Distractions

Home environments often present more distractions, such as household chores, family members, or temptations like television or social media.
These distractions can hinder productivity and focus, leading to longer work hours and stress.

3. Social Isolation

Remote work can foster feelings of loneliness and disconnection from colleagues and the larger organizational culture. It might be okay in the short term, but it quickly becomes a problem as time goes on.
Lack of face-to-face interaction can negatively impact team collaboration, morale, brainstorming, and creativity.

The Benefits of Returning to the Office

Reclaiming Work-Life Separation

Having a dedicated workspace outside the home helps create a clear boundary between professional and personal spheres.
Leaving the office at the end of the day allows for a mental and physical transition into personal time.

2. Improved Focus and Productivity

Office environments are typically designed to minimize distractions and promote focused work.
Being surrounded by colleagues can foster a sense of accountability and motivation.

3. Fostering Collaboration and Teamwork

Face-to-face interactions facilitate better communication, ideation, and problem-solving among team members.
Informal conversations and spontaneous interactions can spark creativity and strengthen workplace relationships.

4. Maintaining Work-Life Balance

By separating work and personal spaces, people can more effectively manage their time and prioritize self-care activities outside of work hours.
This balance can lead to improved mental and physical well-being, as well as better overall job satisfaction.

Striking the Right Balance

While returning to the office offers benefits, it’s essential to strike a balance that works for both employers and employees. This can include:

Offering flexible schedules or hybrid working arrangements to accommodate individual needs and preferences.
Promoting a culture that respects work-life boundaries and discourages expectations of constant availability.
Providing resources and support for mental health and stress management.

Retaining Employees, a bit of pandering might be necessary

To retain employees these days, small business owners will need to go beyond the basics and make their employees feel inspired, intrinsically motivated, appreciated, empowered, and supported in their health and well-being.

This can be achieved by implementing strategies such as conducting retention interviews with all employees, providing an outlet for anonymous feedback about management, offering opportunities for career development, and compensating employees at current market rates.

People need to grow up and not look for constant pats on the back

With all that said about making employees feel special and needed, I think that there is a certain amount of maturity we all need to accept at the same time. We need to re-grow up or re-grow a backbone. Much of life’s duties and tasks are thankless, that’s life. We don’t need constant pats on the back for raising kids and doing your job at work. That is what you’re supposed to do, you don’t get a gold star every day for doing it.

So although there are things employers can do to help us feel more appreciated, there is a lot we can do to face some of life’s realities. Not everything is worthy of a protest, not everything in our society is bad, not all employment is somehow trying to oppress you.

It’s time we pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps and got back in the game.

In the post-pandemic era, the importance of work-life balance has become increasingly evident. By returning to the office, employees can regain a sense of separation between their professional and personal lives, building improved focus, productivity, and overall well-being.

However, it’s crucial for organizations to prioritize a flexible and supportive environment that promotes a healthy work-life integration for their employees. And it’s time for us to grow up and not look for constant praise from everyone. Work is called work for a reason, it’s not playtime and it’s not a safe-space, it’s where grownups go to be productive and earn a living.

For insights on building brand loyalty and cultivating timeless relationships with your audience, check out my past article: How John Deere Built Timeless Loyalty Through Its Green Legacy.

And for further information about leaving a legacy, read: How High Standards, Integrity, and Reliability Build Authority for Your Business.

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If you have any questions or want to talk through some of these marketing ideas or get help creating them, reach out to me any time at: David@crosscopywriting.com

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For a practical guide to promote Traditional American Values: 20 Ways to Infuse Your Marketing with Strong Work Ethics and Traditional American Values download the guide HERE.