Over the past year and a half, remote work has become the norm for many of us as Covid-related restrictions have fundamentally changed how and where we work. It remains to be seen how permanent this shift proves to be, but it’s quite probable that remote working will be a greater part of our working lives in the future.
A new paper from the Lally School of Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute explores how we can most effectively function in such a world.
“A key challenge most people face when they work from home is how to effectively navigate the boundaries between their work life and home life, all while continuing to be efficient and productive in their job,” the author explains. “The need to be able to adeptly manage the boundaries between work and family is absolutely critical today.”
Two types of remote worker
The paper describes two distinct types of remote workers. The first are “segmentors”, who operate best by trying to form a clear and distinct boundary between their professional life and their personal life. The second are “integrators”, who are far more at ease blurring the boundaries between their personal and professional lives.
The author argues that regardless of which of these best defines you, it’s crucial that boundaries are erected and maintained that match their desired comfort level.
These boundaries typically form across four domains: temporal, behavioral, physical, and communication. Each of these must be taken into account when setting and managing the boundaries between our work and home life.
The author also recommends setting limits on things such as household noise, while also beginning and ending our workday at regular times. It’s also important to have conversations with other family members to set clear expectations about the workday.
“You’re in a different physical and mental space when you’re working remotely or in the home domain,” the author concludes. “Communication becomes particularly crucial when you’re immersed in the home environment to balance everything successfully.”
