While a constant parade of new, handheld, mobile devices has enabled us to adapt to, push forward, and thrive in the new techno-centric culture that emerged as a result of a slew of interconnected technological innovations that came to define the mid-late 20th century, culminating in the creation and spread of personal computing and the Internet, in the 21st century, I have sometimes found difficult the task of finding my bearings in a culture that is constantly evolving with the technology it creates. Rarely am I able to pause and wonder whether, in fact, I am indeed better off. Although the Information Age has done just what its name purports—eased access to and democratized information, breaking down some of those social or cultural barriers which, in the past, might have obstructed access to education—the emergence, and quick embrace of handheld, mobile devices has allowed us to remain ‘plugged-in’ while making us more accessible. Though I am careful not to bemoan the very innovations and technology allowing me to compose this blog post, social and cultural values have changed quickly to accommodate the, oft blindingly fast-paced, technological innovations of the 21st century, many of which affect each of us on a personal level (in some way), and have, since their invention, chipped away at our work-life balance, something I refer to as ‘job creep’.
Like Kudzu, pueraia lobata, a rapacious, ‘creeping’ vine, whose rapid growth can make it difficult to contain as it blankets and stamps out surrounding plant life, possibly upsetting delicate ecosystems, technology has created an environment conducive to ‘job creep’, allowing our jobs to slowly creep into, and take over our personal lives. Although this analogy is imperfect—Kudzu is an aggressive, invasive vine which can grow and decimate plant life at a staggering rate—it does paint, I think, a rather vivid picture of how our jobs have begun to creep by extending their tendrils, blurring the lines dividing our private and professional lives. As is the case with Kudzu, there are a number of things the 21st century worker can do to keep in check ‘job creep’, however.
As Debra Auerbach, writing for TheWorkBuzz notes, there exist five things workers can do who fear their job may be taking over their life.
- “Aim for balance.” Achieving a good work-life balance cannot only help to ameliorate stress, but can lead you to develop a healthy, positive relationship with your work. Put another way, clearly demarcating your personal and your professional life will help to stave off ‘job creep’ and have a positive impact on how you relate to your work.
- “Take a break.” In the same way that an internal combustion engine cannot run at full power in perpetuity, so too, workers need to take a moment to power-down for routine maintenance.
- “Put the phone down.” Admittedly, doing this can be a bit hard. We have grown used to a life in which we are constantly being bombarded with information, and, as such, have ready and constant access to any information we might crave. “Putting the phone down” requires that we give up a certain degree of control—that we live our lives in moderate suspense. Eventually, however, I am confident the “suspense” that comes from “not knowing,” will wear away, allowing you to assume a more balanced, focused approach to both your personal and professional life. As career coach Karen Southall Watts observes, allow you to “focus and devote total attention to important projects,” allowing you to “create higher-quality output.”
- “Speak up.” Although we may sometimes wish such was the case, your boss is not a mind reader—he or she does not possess a supernatural sense which allows him or her to intuit when your work-life balance is off. Say something. “Your manager or leadership in your organization should be supportive of creating a balanced work environment for you,” believes career coach Tiffani Murray.
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