The accessibility trap

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.

Check your mailbox quickly at breakfast, make calls on the way home and answer e-mails while on vacation - the boundaries between work and leisure are increasingly blurring.

As practical as smartphones, tablets & Co. are, and as much as they can make life easier, they help ensure that the job takes up more and more space. Anyone who can be reached 24 hours a day is never free. Around every second employee sometimes does work outside of regular working hours, shows a report by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 23 national and international studies were scrutinized for the report.

The higher the position in the profession, the greater the excesses of the phenomenon. Managers in particular seem to fall into the availability trap. This makes constant availability a status symbol. Those who do not always have to be available today are not important.

Physical and emotional consequences

However, the mobile leased line to the boss and colleagues comes at a high price: Switching off during leisure time falls by the wayside. However, relaxation is an important counterbalance to the constant pressure in work life. If it is neglected, there is a risk of psychological and physical consequences - from sleep disorders and back pain to depression and burnout. Long-term consequences can also be cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

On the other hand, the feeling of being needed strengthens job satisfaction and productivity. Working hours are also becoming more flexible: For example, employees can leave the office earlier because they can be reached by mobile phone in an emergency, or they can do their work from home.

Binding guidelines for availability

Some companies have already reacted to the excesses: They are introducing binding guidelines on what times an employee must be available and when he is taboo for the company. Words of warning even came from the Federal Ministry of Labor. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Act requires every employer to take measures that protect the health of their employees.

Social pressure

But laws are of little use if the social reality is different. Because everyone is constantly on the receiving end, this has almost become a matter of course. Those who ignore their smartphones and have not answered their e-mails for too long are now reaping indignation - from colleagues as well as friends. Reacting quickly is also part of good manners during working hours.

Lack of efficiency

Looking at the smartphone and checking incoming e-mails are now reflexive. This is more of a hindrance for work: The constant preoccupation with incoming information tears you out of the work flow, damages your concentration and ultimately costs time. There is less and less space to process and process information. As a result, you work ineffectively and perform less well. In order to make up for that, the working hours are being extended.

Conscious handling

The only way out of the accessibility trap is to consciously deal with the mobile helpers. And most of them have to learn it again first. Fixed time windows for reading and processing emails are a first step. In between, looking into the inbox is taboo. Another tip for slowing down: keep an eye on your priorities. Not everything that comes in is urgent. And not everything that is urgent is important.

Also, free yourself from excessive demands from employers and colleagues about their availability. It takes a bit of courage, but your health and job performance will ultimately benefit.

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