Work is what most people spend the majority of their lives doing. It’s what gives their lives meaning and purpose, and it is the source of their income. For most, their jobs also provide a sense of satisfaction and achievement. However, if your job is draining you or just doesn’t make you happy, it can be hard to concentrate on doing it well. Poor mental health and other life events can also have an effect on your performance at work.
7.1: Work- The Scientific Definition
In Physics, work is the transfer of energy from one object to another. It is the product of a force’s magnitude and the distance over which it acts to change the motion or displacement of an object. It is expressed in units of work per second (joule) in the metric system.
The scientific definition of work is different from the everyday meaning. Things that we think of as work, such as pushing a heavy object on level ground, are not considered to be work in Physics because there is no change in the object’s position. However, falling objects can do work, as they have gravitational potential energy which turns into kinetic energy as the fall progresses.
Whether something does or doesn’t do work depends on the direction of the force and the relative displacement angle between the object and the force, as seen in Figure below. The more positive the direction of the displacement is, the more work an object does, and vice versa.
An object’s velocity and acceleration are affected by the force applied to it, but its acceleration and displacement can also be affected by other forces, such as friction and gravity. These other forces can do zero work, negative work, or positive and negative work in the same manner as the force applied to the object.
It is possible to get more done in less time if you are focused. It is easier to do this in an environment that is quiet and free from distractions. Working from home, for example, eliminates the commute and limitless interruptions from co-workers that can occur in the office. This allows you to get into a flow and be productive.
If you find it difficult to separate your work life from your personal life, try setting some boundaries for yourself. For instance, limit the amount of time you check your email outside of the office and avoid answering work messages after hours. If you must, set aside a specific time for responding to emails and calls, like during your lunch break or during the weekday evenings. This will help you be more productive and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Besides, the world isn’t going to end if you have to wait until the next business day to respond to an urgent email or call. If it’s really urgent, there are emergency services you can contact.
