This page updated March 2022
Syllabus
The impact of digital technologies on work/life balance; 11 ATAR, 12 GEN
Background
- Working in an office or workplace has been the norm for many centuries. Digital technologies have led to a change in the workplace that now makes it possible with excellent connectivity to work from home.
Work/Life Balance
- Covid-19 has prompted many organisations directing workers to work from home.
- This has led to benefits of efficient 'work at home' practices, but has also caused the inability for some to 'get away' from work.
- The need for some to respond to the large volume of emails, messages and face to face meetings using Zoom, Teams or WebEx has caused an imbalance in their lives.
- If this worker is continually meeting the job needs of the workplace, this can lead to breakdown of mental health for that worker or their family members.
Consequences
- family breakdown
- mental health issues
- physical issues such as eye strain, headaches, neck pain, wrist pain and more.
Overcoming this Impact
- Workers need to set aside a work routine based on timings that work for them and their employer.
- This ensures the work tasks get done.
- They also need to set aside specific timings to have time away from work.
- This ensures leisure time is planned for and can actually happen.
- If a work/life balance still can't be achieved, then some individuals may need to consider 'digital detox'. This means spending time away from all digital devices for a set amount of time.
For You To Do
- Make a list of your use of digital devices (screen time) at particular timings as below.
- weekday
- evenings
- nights
- Weekends.
- Next to each of these record your 'screen time' in hours.
- Compare your results with those of a friend.
- Describe your work/life balance considering the possibility of your over-use of technology? If yes, how can it be fixed?
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