Being an employee or a manager in today’s work environment can be demanding and stressful. The workforce consists of members coming from diverse generations.
These people strive to see eye-to-eye or be on the same page every day towards the achievement of their employment organization’s goals.
Furthermore, the arrival of technology has considerably impacted how people approach work.
While innovations like social media, smartphones, smart tablets, and 5G have made communication faster, they have also made the workplace more challenging.
Besides, modern consumers from around the globe desire more of what would make their and their families’ lives better.
They all want what is the best, healthy, fast, relevant, and so forth.
With this reality, members of the workforce have to adapt by doing their best to deliver their clients’ desires in no time.
Hence, they feel the pressure which, in the worst cases, could negatively affect their wellness.
I. Relevant Reading on Approaching Today’s Demanding Workplace
Adam Fraser is a performance specialist. In 2012, he published his book titled, “The Third Space.”
It has the sub-title “Using Life’s Little Transitions to Find Balance and Happiness.”
The peak performance researcher gave some tips on how contemporary workers can juggle the work-life balance.
An article about Fraser from women’s wellness magazine Women’s Health and Fitness featured a query from a reader named Jessica from New South Wales in Australia.
She said that every time she experiences a stressful day at her workplace, she finds herself displacing or venting her negative emotions to her family.
Jessica stated that her loved ones do not deserve her actions. Thus, she asked Fraser if there is a technique on how to switch off from work effectively.
Also, Jessica asked how she could leave her worker mindset entirely at the office.
In this manner, she could turn her complete attention to her family when she is already back at home.
Fraser described “The Third Space” as an exploration of how people could transition between the various segments of their existence.
He described the so-called “first space” as the environment where people are now or the role they are currently taking.
Meanwhile, Fraser referred to the “second space” as the environs where people are about to head.
He said that it also refers to the part they are about to take.
Finally, the author explained that the “third space” is the transitional gap between the first and the second spaces.
- II. Effects of People’s Activities While Traveling Home from Office
Fraser described the “third space” in his book “The Third Space” as the gap or time when one travels from his office back to his house.
He cited that the productive activities that people engage with during these moments are essential to their attainment of balance, joy, and positive performance.
The author remarked that these constructive pursuits permitted a manager to regain his composure following an overwhelming conference without having to vent his negative emotions to his staff.
Furthermore, Fraser relayed that these positive activities facilitated athletes to deliver their best performances under tremendous pressure.
Finally, he pointed out that these beneficial ventures enabled marketing staff members to deal with rejection and continue towards the next sales scenario with a positive attitude.
So, what are these activities that people do in the “third space” while they are en route from their workplace back to their homes?
- III. 3 Productive Pursuits Aiding People to Switch Off Effectively
In “The Third Space,” Fraser answered the query of whether what he called the “third space” could halt individuals from taking a stressful day home with them.
He expressed that, in his book, his research involved a massive group of corporate staff members and small business proprietors.
When they arrived home to their families, merely 29 per cent of these research participants affirmed that they were in a cheerful mood with a positive mindset.
After one month, the study participants who performed the three constructive activities that helped them switch off well from work underwent an evaluation.
Fraser cited that he witnessed an impressive 41-per cent improvement in their attitudes towards their families at home.
Here are the three helpful activities that aid people in transitioning well from their workplace to their houses:
A) Engaging in moments of reflection before arriving home.
Fraser instructed the research participants to concentrate on what they accomplished and the things that went well for them during the busy workday.
These members of the workforce contemplated on what took place and analyzed these events.
Through reflection, the participants in Fraser’s research achieved a positive mood.
B) Taking a brief breather while travelling home from the office.
The research participants took the time to relax. They tried to unwind, turning their attention on a single object and decelerating their breathing.
This constructive activity made the research participants feel at ease.
C) Refreshing the mind and preparing for one’s arrival at home.
This technique of resetting one’s mind enabled the members of the workforce to achieve clarity regarding their intent to come home.
They spoke about the particular behaviours that they desired to show their family members.
Plus, they articulated how they wanted to appear as they walk through their household’s entrance.
Fraser relayed that these three positive activities facilitate people to turn their minds on coming home and spending quality time with their families.
As the workday concludes, they allow tired members of the workforce to restore their energy for their loved ones.
Therefore, they can leave the stress that accompanied the workday behind and achieve work-life balance.
