How Remote Work Destroyed My Mental Health (feat. @Katherout) | Future of Work

Summary

The transcript follows Katherine, a sales executive, as she reflects on her life before and during the pandemic. Once an overachiever, she describes how remote work, burnout, and blurred work-life boundaries changed her perspective on success. The shift to remote work, while providing flexibility, also led to mental health struggles and long working hours. Katherine navigates a personal journey of setting boundaries, reconnecting with herself, and redefining her career. The story touches on the wider trend of remote work, especially in the tech industry, and how employees are learning to balance productivity and well-being.

Takeaways

• 😀 Remote work surged during the pandemic, with experts predicting it will remain a significant part of the workforce post-pandemic, especially in tech and white-collar jobs.
• 😀 Many employees, like Katherine, struggled with the blurring of work-life boundaries, working more hours and feeling overwhelmed.
• 😀 The increase in remote work has led to greater burnout, particularly among younger employees who find it harder to set limits between personal and professional time.
• 😀 Studies show that remote workers tend to work more hours, including weekends, and face challenges in disconnecting from work after hours.
• 😀 Katherine, a sales executive, went from a highly structured and achievement-focused life to experiencing mental health struggles as remote work piled up.
• 😀 Many workers, including Katherine, relocated during the pandemic to save money, work from a less stressful environment, or be closer to family and friends.
• 😀 Despite working from home, employees still report feeling disconnected from their colleagues and the broader company mission, leading to existential questions about their work's purpose.
• 😀 The shift to remote work has raised concerns about how companies can better support their employees, not only technically but also in managing mental health and boundaries.
• 😀 Katherine’s experience reflects the broader struggle of finding work-life balance, where personal identity becomes too intertwined with career success and productivity.
• 😀 Employers need to provide guidance on managing workloads and boundaries to help prevent burnout, while employees must develop personal strategies to maintain balance.
• 😀 After a mental health breakdown, Katherine has learned to set boundaries with her work, realizing that doing so has not negatively impacted her reputation or work ethic.

Q & A

How did Katherine’s work-life balance change during the pandemic?

Katherine's work-life balance drastically shifted as she transitioned to working from home. Initially, she was someone who was very focused on her career and work, but once working remotely, her workload doubled and she began working longer hours, often feeling mentally overwhelmed and burnt out.

What challenges did Katherine face while working remotely?

Katherine faced several challenges, including increased workload, lack of personal space in her living environment, and difficulty managing boundaries between work and personal life. She also struggled with the emotional toll of being around family all day and not having enough space to focus or relax.

What was Katherine’s perspective on her career before the pandemic?

Before the pandemic, Katherine was a highly driven, type-A personality who was obsessed with academic achievement and career progression. She prioritized work, career success, and the prestige associated with her job in the tech industry.

How did Katherine’s view of success change after working remotely?

After working remotely, Katherine’s definition of success shifted. She began to realize that work shouldn't define her entire identity, and she started to value maintaining a healthy work-life balance over simply achieving career milestones and earning a prestigious title.

What led to Katherine’s mental health struggles during the pandemic?

Katherine's mental health struggled due to the overwhelming workload, lack of clear work-life boundaries, and isolation. The pressure to constantly be available and the stress of not being able to disconnect from work led to burnout and emotional distress.

What is enmeshment, and how does it relate to remote work?

Enmeshment refers to the blurring of boundaries between one’s career and personal life. It happens when work begins to crowd out all other aspects of life, making it difficult to maintain a healthy balance. Remote work, especially without clear boundaries, can lead to enmeshment, as workers often feel like they need to be constantly available.

What impact did remote work have on Katherine’s family dynamic?

Katherine’s family dynamic was impacted by everyone working from home. Her parents, also in tech, were all working from the same house, leading to a lack of space and emotional bandwidth. Katherine struggled to balance her work responsibilities with her family relationships, resulting in irritability and stress.

What do studies show about productivity during remote work?

Studies suggest that remote workers are just as or more productive than their office counterparts. However, this increased productivity may be due to workers putting in more hours. Many report working on weekends and more hours per week compared to pre-pandemic office schedules.

What strategies did Katherine develop to improve her work-life balance?

Katherine worked with her therapist to create strategies for setting boundaries. This included learning how to say no and establishing clear boundaries between work hours and personal time, allowing her to disconnect from work and avoid burnout.

What changes did Katherine make in her life after the pandemic?

After the pandemic, Katherine decided to leave her parents’ house and move to Seattle, continuing her remote job. She also reevaluated the role work plays in her life and started to separate her career from her identity, aiming for a healthier work-life balance.