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As exciting as it would be to think a double life is being a secret agent by night, taking down crime syndicates, and fitting into society as an ordinary person during the day would be, we’re talking about something a little different.

Let’s look at the paparazzi – constantly trailing the rich and famous to capture moments that are unconventional or perhaps moments that are just ordinary and unexpected. You see, with many people in society such as famous people and sporting stars, the public expects them to maintain a certain persona while in the public’s eye.

The question is, are you doing the same at work? Are you one person in the office and an entirely different person once the weekend approaches? You’ll find it’s more common than you think. We do indeed lead double lives, for the most part.

Why do we lead double lives?
It’s not because we want to, but because we feel we need to. Most people tend to change their behaviour at work to maintain a certain level of professionalism, meet manager & teammate’s expectations, and adapt to the company’s culture. Most of us feel we can be more of ourselves outside the office, hence feeling the urge to get out of your corporate attire and into something comfortable as soon as you arrive at home.

Is it necessary to lead a double life?
Nowadays, it’s a bit different as times have changed dramatically over the last decade. Businesses have adopted a more relaxed and flexible environment with more freedom. But it’s important to know there are times and situations where it’s appropriate and even necessary to lead that double life. For example, someone who is passionate about politics who shares strong political views would probably be unwise to express their views in the workplace, especially with those without knowing them all that well.

Similarly, most people wouldn’t want to carry their professional persona home with them. They want to unwind, relax, and be themselves when away from work. Can you imagine wearing a suit while catching up with friends for a few drinks or even having to be careful of your use of language? No, nobody wants that.

Why you need to be yourself more at work
Being yourself always has it’s benefits. One of the most difficult traits to come by in today’s age is genuineness and being yourself will help you come across more genuine, and therefore create and build bigger and better relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Let’s not forget about the most important aspect, your happiness & job satisfaction. Being yourself certainly helps with happiness and job satisfaction which means you’ll stay in a job that you love for longer.