BRINGING WORK HOME

Bringing work home can be a source of stress for many people. In such cases, there is little separation between work and home life. In order to manage stress effectively, it is important to be able to separate the personal and the professional activities and responsibilities. Sometimes you may not bring actual work home, but you bring the emotional baggage or worries from work into your home and family life.

It can be helpful to use some form of structure or activity to provide a transition between work and home. Rituals or a consistent routine can serve such a purpose. Any of you who watched Mr. Roger's Neighborhood on TV probably noticed his ritual of changing his sweater at the beginning and end of his show. This provides an environmental clue to the body. Some people have a routine of going to the gym to workout before going home.

Many people, however, are so busy that they rush home from work and jump right into the responsibilities awaiting them at home. This might be kids, a spouse, or pets who are eager for your attention and/or want to be fed. One of my clients built in time to play with her kids as soon as she got home, allowing her to spend time with them as well as providing time for her to unwind. If you commute by some form of public transportation, you can use that time to do some mental clearing or relaxation before you get home. If you drive yourself, perhaps you could take a few moments to unwind mentally before you get home or do a brief relaxation process before getting out of the car to go into the house.

If you must do some work at home, set aside a specific time and space for this to help you maintain the separation between work and home. Make family time separate from work and set limits and boundaries for yourself on your time. Also, take some time to assess your stress level and feelings about working on your "off time". I found myself at times getting resentful when I had to go into the office on Saturdays rather than spend time with my family. In such cases, it is helpful to reassess your priorities and remind yourself of what choice you are making. Then let go of any resentment and give your full attention to whatever you need to do in the moment.

I would love to hear from any of you who have developed rituals, practices, or routines that help you make the transition from work to home. Please share with me and other readers by sending in your comments. Thanks.