撰文:香港家庭教育學院總監狄志遠博士

 

香港是一個高度競爭的社會,講求效率、高增值和高生產,所以香港人都是「工作狂」,或被迫接受很長的工作時間。理論上,我們的工作時間是有規則的,例如:朝九晚五或朝九晚六,當然亦有些職業是有更長的工作時間,但總會有下班的時間。不過,近年有不少朋友下班後仍會把工作帶回家繼續忙碌,再加上現時的電子平台及互聯網非常發達,所以更方便大家下班後仍可以在電子平台上繼續工作及聯絡。結果,在不知不覺間,大家變得沒有穩定的下班時間,回到家中仍打開電腦,繼續查看和回覆電郵、看報告和寫計劃書等等。

 

工作時間長,除了對身心健康造成影響外,時刻記掛著工作的進度,同時亦會造成心理壓力,嚴重影響家人的情緒,所以香港人普遍都有情緒壓力問題。把工作帶回家,不單是一些事務或任務,同時是把工作壓力一併帶回家。這些壓力會不知不覺影響自己的情緒,也因此影響家人的情緒。當然,子女希望父母能陪他們玩耍,但父母在家要忙於工作,於是覺得子女很煩,便將情緒轉嫁到孩子身上。

Written by: Dr. Tik Chi-yuen, Director of Hong Kong Institute of Family Education

 

Hong Kong is a highly competitive society that emphasizes efficiency, high added value, and high productivity. Therefore, Hong Kong people are known as “workaholics” or are forced to accept long working hours. In theory, our work hours have regulations, such as working from nine to five or nine to six. Of course, there are professions with longer working hours, but there should always be an end to the workday. However, in recent years, many individuals continue to be busy with work even after leaving the office. Additionally, with the advanced electronic platforms and the internet today, it has become more convenient for people to work and communicate on these platforms even after work. As a result, without realizing it, we no longer have a stable off-duty time. When we return home, we still open our computers to continue checking and replying to emails, reading reports, and writing proposals, and so on.

 

Long working hours not only have an impact on our physical and mental health but also cause constant concern about work progress, leading to psychological stress. This stress seriously affects the emotions of family members, which is why Hong Kong people generally experience emotional stress. Bringing work home means not only bringing some tasks or assignments but also bringing work-related stress. These pressures unconsciously affect our own emotions and, consequently, the emotions of our family members. Naturally, children hope that their parents can spend time playing with them, but when parents are busy with work at home, they may find their children bothersome and transfer their emotions onto them.

家庭是一個促進家庭成員互相支持的地方,我們在情感上應有更多更深入的互動,互相分享關懷與愛。但當我們把工作帶回家後,大家會感受到你的壓力及情緒,子女逐漸會覺得與你難以溝通,結果嚴重影響親子關係,那是十分不值得的。

 

我們回到家中,不是延續處理事工,而是要與家人建立親密關係,所以回到家中,要多與家人有親密行為,例如擁抱、玩遊戲和說故事等。同時要多表達愛意,分享心事。在家中是談情說愛的,而不是忙於回覆公司的電郵。這不單可以舒展大家的身心,也懂享受家庭樂。

Family is a place that promotes mutual support among family members, and we should have more profound emotional interactions, sharing care and love with each other. However, when we bring work home, everyone can feel your stress and emotions, and gradually, children may find it difficult to communicate with you, resulting in a serious impact on the parent-child relationship, which is not worthwhile.

 

When we come back home, it’s not about continuing to deal with work matters, but rather about building intimate relationships with family members. So, when you come home, engage in more intimate behaviors with your family, such as hugging, playing games, and telling stories. At the same time, express love and share thoughts. At home, it’s about talking about love and affection, rather than being busy replying to work emails. This not only helps to relax everyone’s mind and body but also allows us to enjoy the joy of family.

工作時工作,遊戲時遊戲,這是最簡單的道理,就請大家把工作放在辨公室內,將愉快的心情帶回家中。

Work when you’re working, play when you’re playing. This is the simplest principle, so please everyone, keep work in the office and bring a joyful mood back home.