We are all trying to balance a million things, trying to manage our time between work and life, finding balance. The rise of virtual work has presented a sort of win-win; flexibility alongside autonomy. Working virtually has some benefits to work-life balance.
This shift allowed for virtual collaboration, working together in a shared digital environment, regardless of their physical location. This has dramatically reshaped how we work.
Platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Slack have been essential to providing real-time messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing. I find these tools to be very similar to the “OASIS” communication networks, allowing for instant contact and shared information, when put in a more structured business context.
The importance of teamwork and collaboration in the “OASIS” is mirrored in the real world of virtual work. Just as players in “Ready Player One” reply on each other to achieve common goals, remote teams rely on effective collaboration to succeed.
These platforms create a space for transparency. This virtual world creates a space for all team members to have access to the project. It provides a place for real time changes, while being able to have all information in one collaborative space. Having this tool can help keep teams organized while building trust and a positive work space for all involved.
Virtual workspaces are an ever-growing environment. Workers are relying on these virtual spaces to get work done, and like most work environments there are impacts on well-being.
According to SageJournals remote employee well-being has been shown to be stressed, anxious, and burnout. This study goes on to that digital employees have the tendency to experience stress and anxiety due to job demands.
This Journal (and i’m sure many others) has put into perspective that there is a positive and negative to everything. Finding the right work-life balance while working remotely is the goal. One I have everyday for school and managing school work. Some solutions I use is setting break times (boundaries). I try really hard not to let work/school work take up personal time. To prevent burnout, I try to disconnect and prioritize rest and relaxation.
Virtual work offers opportunities for creating a better work-life balance, when using positive solutions. Even in OASIS and over immersion, a warning to the work from home life. It is important to remember to log off, and enjoy the real world too.
Reference not sourced in post:
“Transparency in Project Management” – QRP International. Published February 7, 2025.