Why 'Work From Home' Feels Longer Than in the Office? Here are the Details

TRIBUNBATAM.id - To reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus, many companies around the world have implemented work from home (WFH) policies for their employees, including in Indonesia.

This is in line with the government's call to isolate themselves and limit activities outside the home.

Indeed, working from home allows you to have more flexible time, no need to spend time on a trip, and don't bother thinking about appearances. 

However, do you feel your working hours are longer when working from home rather than at work?

Reporting from CNBC, Sunday (5/4/2020), Gemma Lloyd, CEO of the global work network company Work180 said, there was a tendency for employees to work longer hours at home.

Because there are difficulties adjusting and setting boundaries between work and personal life. 

"A person's work hours are usually structured from leaving home to immediately arrive at the office to go home. (While when working from home) there is no need to rush to finish work to catch the train home. There is no equal urgency," Lloyd said.

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Meanwhile, founder of the Flexa career platform, Molly Johnson-Jones explained, many employees wanted to prove to the company that they worked hard even though they worked from home. 

Even so, Johnson-Jones stated, the sense of wanting to prove productivity will eventually diminish when it starts to get used to working from home.

To create a good boundary between work and personal life, he advises employees not to feel any pressure that time normally spent on traveling to work and going home should be used for work.

Conversely, one to two hours that are usually used for travel can be used to exercise, cook, or spend time with family. 

In addition, Johnson-Jones also recommends that you regularly take a short break when working from home.

"It's good so you realize how long you've been staring at the screen without resting," he said. 

Lloyd recommends that you set an alarm to remind you that the working hours are over, for example in the afternoon at 17.00 or 18.00. 

"If you still want to work beyond those hours, that's fine. However, don't work until late at night," Lloyd suggested.