Are you working smart

 

The coronavirus pandemic brought with it waves of changes. Before we knew it, our entire lives had turned around. The way we ate, talked, socialised, lived, and even breathed for that matter – everything came with a new set of rules and protocols. What changed radically was the way we worked. With the lockdown, we had to now conquer all our worldly duties from within our four walls.

The work from home (WFH)scenario meant that we had to continue working like we did earlier but without even having to step outside the house. Our primary source of communication became Zoom calls or Google Meets. Long meetings were conducted over strong internet connections. Small celebrations became private events that were shared on video calls. Not everyone took to it like a duck to water, however. While some of usrevelled in this scenario, some craved their old office routine. The “new normal” took some getting used to.

What made it a breeze

1. Lesser travel time

The most important advantage of working from home has been the amount of time saved by not having to commute to the office every day. No more suffering through rush hour of the trains, the scuffle of the buses, or even the never-ending traffic. Employees saved up as much as 2 hours on a daily basis by working from home. Lesser commute has also led to employees being less stressed or frustrated by avoiding all the hassles that accompany travelling in the city.

2. Increased productivity

Now, no more nagging supervisors standing over your head watching your every move, so that you could work better. Employees were working faster and more efficiently. Productivity increased because people can just work within their space without the immediate intimidation of a senior.

3. More time for yourself

All the advantages that WFH has given us, they have all led to this: more time for yourself. With the cutting down of travel time and a comfortable environment, people can now find those few extra hours to invest in themselves. Many people have taken on new hobbies or started new side business in order to stay in touch with their creative selves. Some have started going to the gym and focusing on their physical health.

4. Savings!

Fewer commutes and lesser socialising meant we cut down on our eating out and entertainment expenses in a big way. The savings have grown but only those working smart have been prudent enough to channel these into smart protection plans like HDFC Life Click 2 Protect Life that doesn’t just provide comprehensive financial protection to your family, but gives you the flexibility to choose from 3 plan options, offers a choice of income payouts from age 60 as also an option to get back all premiums paid on survival till maturity with the Return of Premium option. Uncertain times like these need smart plans like HDFC Life Click 2 Protect Life that adapt themselves to your changing lifestyle! 

The downside

1. Blurred lines between home and work

While WFH did garner much praise, people also could no longer distinguish between their work life and home life. We are engrossed in household chores while working on an office presentation and during office meetings, we often tend to their domestic duties. This has been especially tough for women who have had to juggle both sides of their life while working.

2. No fixed office hours

In the pre-pandemic world, most companies would have fixed office hours for their employees. This has changed tremendously now. People are working longer, harder, and more than they ever have in their lives. The regular 8-12 office hours have skyrocketed to even 16 hours on a daily basis. Employees are getting so tired of this lack of stipulated hours that they now want to go back to working from their offices all things considered. 

3. No social life

Family time has gone down immensely even though they live in the same house. In addition to this, there is no free time available to meet friends or socialise over lunches and dinners. Work has pervaded every part of the personal life.

4. Poor physical and mental health

Considering that employees must work from home, physical activity has gone down tremendously. Employees are now complaining about back aches, insomnia, high stress levels, and increased fatigue as compared to their life before the pandemic. All these factors have directly impacted their productivity at work making it a vicious cycle between working and taking care of yourself.

In such scenarios, what remains most important is to take care of yourself. While the world around you is changing constantly, it is imperative to have something and someone you can rely on. The HDFC LifeClick2Protect Lifeplan does exactly that. This insurance policy ensures that you and your family are taken care of even while you’re busy staying on top of your game at work. 

With the increasing stressors of your day-to-day life, HDFC Life Click 2 Protect Life makes sure that you have a plan B to fall back on should anything untoward take place in your life. Work smart with HDFC Life to make sure work from home keeps working for you!

ARN: ED/03/21/23030