Taking work home
Do you find that work doesn’t stop when you’re at home? Perhaps you keep thinking about tasks, conversations or what still needs to be done. Or you end up checking your email for a moment, even though you actually wanted to rest. Taking work home with you can mean you’re never really off duty. It’s not just about literally carrying work home with you. Worrying, planning and keeping your mind on work also take up energy. If this happens often, it becomes harder to recover. Being at home then no longer feels like taking a break from work, but like continuing to work in your head.
What do you notice?
Taking work home can manifest itself in various ways.
You may, for example, notice that:
- you continue to think about work after working hours;
- you often check your emails or messages;
- you find it difficult to relax;
- you pay less attention to home;
- you have difficulty falling asleep;
- you are irritable;
- if you feel as though you are always lagging behind;
- you use your free time to finish work;
- you feel guilty when you are unavailable.
Sometimes it feels as though carrying on working is necessary to stay in control. But in the long run, it can actually lead to more tiredness and stress.
