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The remote work trend has taken the world by storm. While its proponents claim that switching the office for a cozy corner at home allows for a better work-life balance, the researchers aren’t so sure. So what exactly is the deal with remote work and its effects on our health? Let’s dive into it.
Remote work – good or bad?
Remember the times when employees valued perks like casual Fridays? Well, that ship has sailed – now it’s all about working remotely. According to a study by Forbes, as much as 98% (!) of workers want to work online at least some part of the time1. The pandemic transformed the workplace and showed people that handling their job without showing up at the office is not only possible but energy and cost-efficient as well. Employees who had that option claim that WFH allowed them to manage their time better, increase productivity, and improve mental health. But these benefits come at a price, too. And that may be bigger than we previously thought.
How does remote work impact our mental health?
WFH advocates believe that limiting exposure to stress-inducing work environments is a life-savior for our mental health. While this can ring true for some people in certain situations, the – somewhat surprising – consensus is that remote work is actually pretty bad for our mental health. How so? First of all, it can be a lonely and isolating experience. Sitting in front of a screen takes away our opportunity for social interaction, which can lead to higher levels of stress and anxiety2. Working from home may also cause drops in motivation and prompt procrastination – after all, no one is there to control what we do, so why bother? This takes away our sense of self-fulfillment and can later translate to other areas of our life. That’s another big problem with online jobs – blurring the lines between work and free time can prompt burnout and cause us to put in too many hours, effectively ruining the work-life balance it was supposed to save.
Remote work vs. physical health
Mental health is not the only thing at stake when it comes to WFH. Remote work can harm the state of our bodies as well. According to a study by Pew Research Survey, as much as 46% of stay-at-home employees take less exercise and 39% of them suffer from musculoskeletal problems3. This can lead to problems such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, or even osteoporosis later in life.
What’s more, spending a lot of time in isolation, without the feeling of others’ supervision, can make people prone to drinking alcohol and eating junk food. Ditching the office may also wreak havoc on our sleep – since we’re spending so much time indoors and in front of our screens, we can find ourselves struggling with inconsistent sleep schedules or low-quality sleep, which leads to tiredness and increases our risk of multiple illnesses.
How to prevent burnout when working from home?
As we can see, there are many downsides to remote work. Most of them, however, are not caused by the mere fact of doing our jobs from home – it’s the lack of improper care outside of working hours that ruins our mental and physical health. Pretty much all of the negative effects of WFH can be prevented by maintaining social relations, a good diet , and an exercise routine. Physical activity in particular has an incredible impact on preserving our health, as it is good for both mind and body – not to mention it can be a form of socializing, too. That’s why incorporating a daily dose of movement into a work-from-home regimen can minimize the shortcomings of a remote job and help bring the best of both worlds – for both employee and employer.
But how do you make sure your staff stays up-to-date on their healthy habits? Check out Fitbout – an app designed specifically to increase the wellbeing of employees by gamifying physical activities. With Fitbout, an active and healthy lifestyle turns into an amazing and fun-filled journey that your workers simply want to participate in. Click here to learn more!
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