Blurring: knowing how to recognize the signs and prevent them

Achieving a balance between private and professional life is a very current challenge. Why? Because the border between the two can quickly become blurred: this is what we call blurring.

How do you recognize it? What are its causes and consequences? How to prevent it?

We're taking stock.

Blurring: what is it?

The term “blurring” comes from the English verb” Blur ”, which means: to blur, to disturb, to blur. In the world of work, this phenomenon refers to the blurring of the boundaries between private and professional life.

Even if blurring is not new, it has been growing at breakneck speed in recent years: consulting professional messages at all hours, working in transport or at home outside of business hours, etc. Smartphones and the democratization of remote working, even if they have many advantages, do not always help to balance things out.

The figures are also indisputable: already in 2014, almost 70% of European employees said they were in demand by their work outside office hours (Sources: AFP and L'Express). This figure rises to 80% among managers, in a context where 55% of French companies equip their employees with an Internet connection and a smartphone. We can imagine that the trend has not been reversed...

More recently, a survey conducted by OpinionWay for Eléas (2018) tells us that:

• 47% of the sample interviewed (mainly composed of executives and managers) say they use their digital professional tools to work in the evening;
• 45% on weekends;
• and 35% while on vacation.

Good to know : the people most affected by the blurring would be those with a pronounced need for control, control, perfectionists, as well as those who have difficulty setting limits and/or fearing reproaches (professional conscience may be too developed, professional conscience may be too developed, a problematic work environment, etc.).

The causes of blurring

To blame the development of blurring exclusively on new technologies would be simplistic.

It is true that digital technology and its tools have necessarily changed working habits: laptops, Internet accessible everywhere, remote access to the corporate network, etc. If this makes it possible to gain flexibility and freedom, we can also quickly fall into hyperconnection.

That being said, these “new” technologies are starting to not be that new. Their faults are now known, and the increase in the phenomenon of blurring cannot therefore be explained by this point alone.

On the one hand, the personal and professional spheres have never been completely compartmentalized bubbles: an undeniable porosity has always existed, a porosity that also works in both directions.

On the other hand, as we mentioned earlier, some personalities are more likely to slip into the blurring. But the reality is that no one is really safe: many of us are tempted to want to convey an image of performance and permanent professional availability, or at least of great responsiveness. Whether it is in response to the expectations of a more hurried and more demanding clientele, to be part of a corporate culture, or simply because we want to bring more flexibility and modularity to our schedule, we all practice blurring to a certain extent.

Good to know : do you know FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)? This anxiety of missing something, which can push us to keep our phone within reach to be able to consult our latest Facebook notifications at any time, can also exist in the professional sphere. Even if nothing obliges you to, you check your emails, the latest company news, etc. at any time, almost unconsciously. Here we are almost facing OCD, which it will not always be easy to let go of.

Blurring: what concrete consequences?

While blurring has the undeniable advantage of providing flexibility and possible optimization of time management, it can have really pernicious consequences:

• Losing the boundaries between professional and private life : hyperconnection can give the impression of never completely giving up work.
• Decrease in the quality of work and performances, the appearance of a feeling of guilt during hours not worked.
• Development of chronic stress, anxiety, and psychological fatigue: having the feeling of having to be available all the time is exhausting in the long run.
• In the most serious cases, blurring can even lead to a Burn-out.

Blurring prevention

Since January 1, 2017, France has included the right to disconnect into the Labor Code (article L. 2242-1). In fact, it is the first country in the world to take such an initiative!

Concretely, this right to disconnect stipulates that employees are not required to be permanently reachable by their employer outside of working hours, whether they are teleworking or not. The aim? Ensure respect for rest and vacation time, participate in the balance between professional life and personal and family life, and protect the health of employees.

The health crisis we have been through has brought the risks of blurring to the forefront. A study conducted by the Harvard Business School in September 2020 reveals that remote employees devote nearly an additional hour per day to their work. (48.5 minutes).

It is therefore essential for companies, as well as employees, to put in place preventive actions against the phenomenon of blurring.

On the employer side:

• Inform your employees about the right to disconnect and communicate about work schedules, if necessary by adapting them according to the teams.
• Encourage your employees to communicate only during business hours.
• Set an example by sending your emails during the working day, by not scheduling meetings that spill over into the early evening, etc.

On the employee side:

• Respect your work schedules, if necessary by putting reminders in your agenda.
• Once the day is over, turn off all your business devices and/or turn off notifications.
• Avoid sending emails to colleagues outside of business hours: the temptation to mimicry often snowballs.
• Take time to decompress: relaxation, meditation, yoga, creative activity, etc.
• Don't be too hard on yourself: the watchword is kindness!

You can self-assess your level of burnout using the test next.