Janelle E. Wells, Ph.D., and Doreen MacAulay, Ph.D.
Our (In)visible Work
As the year comes to a close, there are many things that are getting wrapped up—whether it is that big project your team has been working on, the year-end books, the holiday shopping, or final details for that much-needed vacation. The bringing together of the work, ideas, and efforts of others usually requires that one person who will take on the responsibility of putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. But how often do you acknowledge the extra work that these individuals put into the process for us—the unsung heroes who make it all happen, who serve as the invisible tape of our lives?
Consider the person who is responsible for the final report on the team project. They juggle countless tasks—chasing down contributors, compiling data, ensuring everything aligns—yet they are often just recognized for their official portion of the report, and their role in the consolidation of information often goes unnoticed. It is like some provide wrapping paper, and some provide ribbons, but, without the invisible tape, it would not all come together. No one marvels at the tape, but without it, nothing sticks.
Now, consider the person in your family who ensures that every gift is purchased, and no one is left off the shopping list. Curating a list to ensure that everyone feels special, these people manage the mental load of the season, balancing budgets, schedules, and expectations, all the while ensuring everyone enjoys the festivities. Yet, much of this work goes unrecognized. How many of us stop to acknowledge the workload and the energy spent behind the scenes, making sure everything is just right?
Invisible work refers to the tasks and responsibilities that often go unnoticed but are essential in maintaining the smooth functioning of daily life. From managing family schedules to coordinating holiday festivities at work, this labor is rarely celebrated even though its absence would make everything fall apart. We need to start acknowledging all the roles and responsibilities that fall under the invisible work umbrella if we want to reduce the stress of the season.
