RETAINING ZEN IN A NEW WORK ORDER

The COVID-19 Pandemic changed the way we work. Remote work became a norm with the onslaught of the pandemic. Now, the remote work setup is here to stay, with millions of office workers favoring the setup.

- Gabriel Pe

This shift to new types of work setups presents new challenges both for companies adopting and workers who adopted. For companies, the transition to the new normal is accompanied by logistical issues. Maintaining cybersecurity for crucial data means providing employees with vetted and secured devices to prevent any leaks. Other companies have faced "quiet quitting" or the phenomenon where employees lose productivity by doing only the bare minimum.

For employees, working from home or remotely comes with its own set of unique challenges. First is the technological challenge of having the appropriate devices. Many did not have a device suitable for remote work and their internet connection could not keep up with the fast-paced demands of the modern workforce. Communication also presented difficulties as there is a massive difference between personal face-to-face communication and online messages. There could be more misunderstandings when working remotely versus onsite.

A new issue plaguing remote workers is the loss of balance, particularly the loss of work-life balance.

Maintaining your Zen in an everchanging workspace

With the continued adoption of remote working options, remote workers are struggling to find a balance between work mode and home mode. One of the primary reasons for the loss of balance is the unclear boundary between working and rest, which could mean longer or shorter periods devoted to work, or vice-versa. There's also a sense of loneliness and isolation because of a lack of physical contact and a monotonous routine.

Here are some ways to regain or maintain one's Zen in the new normal: