The newfound flexibility to work where, when, and how you want has been a major shift for most people. And this rise in flexible working arrangements has led to increased autonomy, mental well-being, and job satisfaction for many employees.
But it’s led to something else, too.
Guilt.
Many professionals worry that they’re perceived as being lazy or taking advantage of the flexibility and feel the need to justify their work-from-anywhere status.
And to combat these feelings, many flexible workers end up working more than their “9-to-5” counterparts because of the desire to prove their productivity and value.
This article explores the flexible work guilt phenomenon, why it’s misplaced, and what you can do to mitigate it and truly thrive in a flexible work environment.
What is Flexible Work Guilt?
Flexible work guilt is a common experience for many professionals in this situation.
With autonomy, freedom, and no external accountability from other people, it’s easy for feelings of guilt to creep in.
Most professionals today are still deeply rooted in a traditional work culture that values long hours and facetime at the office as a sign of dedication or productivity. So, those who buck the norms through flexible work feel guilty about doing so.
This, plus phenomena like the pervasive “morning bias” that shows supervisors will more positively view employees who arrive early keep people in the mindset that productivity has to be proven.
Further, working from home blurs the lines between work life and personal life—it’s hard to “shut off” without the physical separation of being in a different location.
The outcome of these things is that employees with a flexible work schedule often end up working more than they did before.
And this “curse of flexible work” existed long before the COVID-19 pandemic. One 2016 study looked at the gendered experience of flexible vs. fixed-hour schedules and found that women, particularly, worked four hours more on average when they had a flexible schedule than their fixed-schedule counterparts.
More recently, 2021 data states that 55% of remote workers say, on average, they work more hours remotely than at the office.
Is It Worth It? Pros and Cons of Flexible Work
If remote workers aren’t only putting in more hours but feeling guilty while they do so, we have to ask: is flexible work even worth it?
Given that 87% of workers, when given the opportunity, chose at least some remote work in their schedule, we can answer that question with a “yes.”
Employees and professionals embrace flexible schedules for the following benefits:
- Increased sense of autonomy over their work
- Reduced commute time
- More schedule flexibility for personal matters
- Option to work during peak productivity times
But there are downsides to flexible work schedules, too:
- More difficulty separating work and home life
- Challenges communicating and connecting with colleagues
- Distractions from family members or home tasks
- Isolation or loneliness
It’s easy to see how these cons contribute to feelings of guilt—working independently when it’s harder to “shut off” work leads to people overcompensating and working longer hours.
But the reality is that people who work on flexible schedules don’t need to feel guilty about this arrangement. As long as your work is getting done within the expectations for your role, where, when, and how you do it shouldn’t matter.
It’s time to shake off the expectations of the past and embrace a new way of working.
5 Tips to Mitigate Flex Work Guilt
The truth is that flexible work presents an opportunity to thrive and excel at work. But because we’re so ingrained with outdated ideas about what success looks like, you need to take active steps to shift your mindset.
Here are 5 ways to do so.
1. Set Clear Boundaries
It’s essential to set clear boundaries between work and personal life to avoid burnout and guilt.
A study on how to create effective flexible work policies emphasized the importance of creating clear guidelines and expectations at both the organizational and individual levels.
Individually, this includes setting specific work hours and communicating them with your colleagues, as well as avoiding work-related tasks outside of those hours. You can do this by:
- Blocking time in your schedule to accomplish tasks and get them done
- Setting an out-of-office reply once you’re done for the day
- Removing work email from your personal phone
One key way to set boundaries is by getting really clear on what is urgent vs. important, and prioritize the tasks in your day accordingly.
2. Get Around Other People
Flexible work guilt creeps in typically when professionals work alone at home without the in-person accountability of being around other people.
If this is something you’re struggling with, consider ways you can get around other people in your day-to-day work life. Here are some options:
- Schedule in-person meetings with your colleagues when possible
- Keep up a social chat or Slack channel so you’re regularly in touch with others
- Join a coworking space so you can be around others who are working hard and thriving in their work
- Make it a point to connect with someone during your lunch break every day
3. Practice Self-Care
Self-care is part of setting boundaries for yourself. It’s always important to take care of your physical and mental health—doing so regularly teaches your brain that work isn’t the only important thing in your life.
Everyone’s routine will look different, but here are some self-care practices you can try:
- Make a nourishing and delicious meal
- Get your body moving by going for a walk or joining a workout class
- Connecting with a friend or loved one over a phone call or coffee
- Invest time in a hobby
- Develop effective stress management tools and techniques
- Build a bedtime routine to ensure you get a good night’s sleep
- Put on your favorite music playlist while getting your chores done
4. Focus On Outcomes
A lot of flexible work guilt is centered around the idea that you’re not doing enough. For many people, working at home is more efficient and there are fewer distractions that eat up time. So, the reality is you may be able to get your work done in less time overall.
And that’s why it’s important to focus on the outcomes of your work. Shift your perspective from hours to outcomes, which will help you prioritize tasks, work more efficiently, and achieve better results.
5. Communicate With Your Manager
You don’t have to stay silent if you’re feeling guilty or overwhelmed with work. Consider talking to your manager about your concerns and see if there’s a way to mitigate those feelings.
Together you can agree on the outcomes that are important to your role and establish expectations on how to get there. This may open an important company-wide conversation about flexible work policies in the office so that everyone is on the same page.
Despite the many benefits of flexible work, some professionals feel guilty about it. But this is based on the outdated notion that time at work is more important than the actual results of your job. So, these five strategies can help combat feelings of flexible work guilt.
If you’re in search of a professional workspace that surrounds you with like-minded professionals, you’ll find it at The Post. Book a tour of The Post today.