If you are working, there is a good chance you are doing it from home, a coffee shop, Internet café, or coworking office space. Events of the day have changed the landscape of the workforce in the world today. But is it as “all good” as they report it is?
On the surface, employers are ecstatic as they cut the expenses associated with hosting and physically managing staff by sending them home to work remotely, all the while blaming it on the coronavirus outbreak and the associated executive lockdown order.
As seamless as it may have appeared to send workers home with laptops and a list of assignments, it turns out there were dark energies lurking in the shadows waiting for the right time to be revealed to the unsuspecting employers and employees alike.
First, there is the separation of work and home. It used to be a clear distinction. Employers like it because it appears that the production numbers for employees are up, but actually, it is a mess on the side of the employees. They are so easily distracted by being at home, find it hard to stay motivated, and work longer (unreported) hours in fear that if their productivity slips, they may lose their job.
There is uneasiness and uncertainty all around the telecommuting environment when working from home. If your performance numbers falter, you may lose your job altogether. If you are freelancing or being paid by-the-project, your schedule is uncontrollable, and so is your revenue stream. Some weeks will be better than others which reduces confidence in your earning ability.
Even in the light of all the promises of the benefits of remote work, the dark side ever looms.
There is a growing concern that remote employees on lockdown are not socializing. We already know that without human interaction and connection, people deteriorate and die. At the very least, you don’t hear about it, but the pandemic has produced more mental health concerns from being locked down that deaths from COVID-19, leading to depression, and increased suicidal ideation among teleworkers.
Not being in the office, means not having spontaneous interaction with other workers. It may have gone unnoticed or unrecognized as a key component in employee satisfaction, it is ever clear in the wake of the pandemic. People need people.
A whole host of life struggle, stress, and strain is being added on the backs of telecommuters, such as increasing mental illness, fear-based employment, underachieving-driven-overworking, waning self-confidence, and the only way out, is in.
To go inward, recognize your strengths and weaknesses, putting self-care first, and learning tolerance because all things work together for good, and what seems an insurmountable challenge today will lead to tomorrow’s victory, if you persevere with integrity.
There is hope, and the hope is within you. You are the hope, the light shining to others beaconing the truth of a better day on the horizon.
Embrace your strengths, and strengthen your weaknesses, not to merely survive, but to thrive.
You got this, my friend.