Now that Corona 19 is in vogue, many companies, schools, and others work or take lectures remotely. People might think working remotely is a perfect situation, especially for introverts. They have their invisible room behind the computer, and their tops may be suits, but their bottoms may be pajamas. However, this situation may very well not be a total bargain for most people including introverts. I thought it would be convenient to work or take classes from home, but now I¡¯m starting to change my mind.
Corona 19 kicked many people out of the office. That¡¯s why multitudes are suffering from new telecommuting tasks: numerous videoconferences, the vague boundaries between work and life, and endless video work. I think the most difficult thing about this telecommuting is communication, such as meetings, that are now conducted by video. Working in front of a camera and holding a face to face meeting with people for the duration of their existing working hours is like performing under pressure for eight hours a day. Also, such an atmosphere is difficult to grasp due to its online nature, which can make communication difficult or stressful. This kind of work consumes a lot of energy. How can people efficiently consume their energy from work now that the line between work and life has become blurred?
The first is to think about daily life and the perception of daily life. People have so far set boundaries between work and life, commuting most of the time. That's why people were able to spend personal time as soon as they stepped out of the office, and they were able to concentrate on their work at work. Also, if I had a hard time while working, I could take a small break, drinking a cup of coffee or chatting with my co-worker. For many, this did not only ensure the efficiency of their work but it was also the driving force of their daily lives. However, remote work has obscured such daily perceptions. Now that people don¡¯t have time to chat with others or have proper breaks, people need to think about what they need. It could be something as simple as listening to music, or a short stroll through the neighborhood. I hope they will be able to find a meaningful way to distinguish between their professional and social lives. The second is pace control and space management. Just as a marathon runner runs at a given pace without sprinting from the start, work requires the same kind of planning. Due to the nature of remote work, it is sometimes ambiguous when to rest and when to work. Therefore, it is recommended that people set a time for recharging themselves. The line between work and life mentioned earlier meant the separation of work and home, but now it refers to the need for energy management in the workplace. People need to carefully plan when they can work efficiently and take a rest before tackling the next task. In the case of space, it means the separation of the working environment and the living space. It doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that people have to work in a studio, but it means that the place where they work must be in an environment where they can concentrate on their work. I think this reduces unnecessary energy consumption and allows people to focus only on work when they work.
Finally, if someone is a manager, they should be able to help their employees overcome the aforementioned challenges. For example, during a video conference, the direction of the meeting should be presented properly, and the meeting should be made simple and accurate. That¡¯s why I think the more people work remotely, the more they should be able to keep the rules and time. This is to avoid giving unnecessary stress to employees.
Corona 19 has changed people¡¯s daily lives around the world, and we have no other option but to adapt. Now that many attempts are made to re-imagine and redesign the long-held cultural perceptions of work or school, I hope people will be able to adapt to it and implement new, balanced daily lives.