Story by Inga Bielińska, Forbes
The events of the past several weeks simultaneously transformed the working habits of many nations. Nobody could have expected that remote work, which was mostly typical for gig economy freelancers, digital nomads and a few keen supporters, would suddenly become mainstream. Some people believe that it will remain a stable part of the professional landscape for good. However, while having been an advocate of working from home for many years, lately, I have learned a lot about its dark side, including suffering from “Zoom burnout.” This made me rethink a few of my remote work requirements.
Reactive Habits Of Videoconferencing
Not everybody planned to move to the digital meeting realm by themselves. Compulsory isolation fueled by fear made many of us overschedule meetings via videoconferencing or abuse this medium in a way that it became harmful. We became so connected that we forgot how to work effectively and in a healthy way. (Fingers crossed that this is just a temporary sensation.) Still, I have a feeling that now it might not be the case. Planning is proactive and usually takes time and effort to create beneficial practices. On the other hand, reactive habits seem to stick more easily because they relate to our automatic responses. Being proactive requires a person to recognize responsibility for his or her situation and take the initiative to move forward. This time, many could have felt that their conditions and circumstances weren’t the driving force of their decisions. Instead, it looked like they needed to adjust quickly to unknown territory. And as it often happens, they got lost.
