In 2020, the future of the workplace shifted considerably. As the COVID pandemic ravaged through the world, many workers began working from home. And while many had never done this for an extended period of time before, as time has went on, more and more people became accustomed to this work style & came to prefer it. In fact, Gallup ran a poll in 2021 on this very topic. Of the U.S. remote workforce at that time, 94% preferred to work from home either exclusively or some of the time!
As someone who has now been fully remote for almost 3 years, I have learned a lot about the pros and cons of working from home, as well as some tips on how to do so effectively for your overall health.
Pros
1. No commute
In the same Gallup poll linked above, having no commute was selected as the top reason for why people wanted to work remotely. And it makes sense! Commuting is often bad for your health, bad for your relationships, and bad for the environment.
2. Flexibility to balance family or other obligations
When you are home for work, you have the ability to throw in a load of laundry or take your kids to school. This offers a great amount of flexiblity for a lot of people. In line with this thinking and the ‘no commute’ crowd, you may have more time to go and exercise during breaks in your day or before/after work. This greatly improves your health and wellbeing!
3. Location independence
Working remotely enables people to work wherever they want, whether that’s in a home office, co-working space, or even the Swiss Alps! Having the freedom to pick up your office and work from anywhere is such an amazing perk. In addition, another benefit of location independence is that you are not restricted to living in the city where you work, which may allow you to afford to buy a house or move in with significant others who do not share the same work location.
Cons
1. Less social interaction
According to a study conducted by the APA, 48% of employees said they feel isolated or lonely as a result of working from home. Working remotely can often lead to loneliness because you no longer see people in person, and humans are overwhelmingly social creatures!
2. Less structure
Many people prefer not having to rush in the morning to get dressed and commute to work; with that being said, working remotely can enable us to become lazy with our routine and structure. In other words, it is easier to fall into bad habits and stay motivated.
3. No separation between work and leisure
Remote work can often blur the lines between one’s personal and professional life. This can often lead to burnout or poor mental health of employees.
Tips
1. Work outside your home office once in a while
Despite working remotely and working from home being phrases used interchangeably, it is important to remember that you don’t have to work in the same home office every single day! Get out of the house and opt for a co-working space, library, or coffee shop. If your company allows remote employees to come, as in a hybrid arrangement, give it a go! Make your coffee, go shower, get dressed, and go to work.
2. Set up a routine
If you are working remotely, it is vital to adopt a routine for your day. First and foremost, wake up at the same time every day! To back this proposal, the Mattress Inquirer found that out of 1033 people surveyed, those who have a strict wake up time had a 13% higher personal life satisfaction, 18% higher financial life satisfaction, and 21% higher work-life satisfaction. In addition to waking up at the same time every day, try to set specific days for exercise and physical activity (i.e. Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and stick to it! And lastly, adopt an ‘unplug’ routine – it is important to feel a sense of closure at the end of your work day.
3. Exercise and go outside
Exercise is likely one of the most important things to do if you are a remote worker as you often lose some physical activity not walking around a corporate office. Your routine and structure should be conducive to reducing friction on this point. If you roll out of bed each day and do not have clear times where you stop working, it may be difficult to get into a routine habit with exercise. Even going for a walk or taking a meeting outside has huge benefits for your overall health!