Once upon a time, 66% of Americans reported that they’d take as much as a 10% pay cut to work from home. But now that this has become a reality for many, we’re beginning to wonder whether it’s a case of being careful what you wish for.
Despite benefits including cost cutting, the sad fact is that home working can be a pretty toxic setup, and it’s leading to a range of escalating problems.
But, fear not. It is possible to keep remote work negatives at bay and enjoy this grass-is-greener setup. You simply need to find ways to avoid these three main toxicities.
1 – Mental struggles
The isolated nature of remote work alone is leading to significant mental struggle increases. Namely, 19% of worker’s report feeling increasingly lonely as face-to-face becomes a thing of the past. It’s fair to say, too, that the cabin fever of working and living in one space is taking its toll for some who perhaps didn’t even realize how much their commutes helped them to enter the right headspace/break up the day. Admittedly, these issues aren’t helped by the fact that we’re limited in where we can go even outside of work, but there are options. Something as simple as starting or ending the day with a walk could prove invaluable, while being sure to speak with loved ones face-to-face regularly where it’s safe to do so can offset the risk of loneliness.
2 – Stiff joints
Remote work can also impact us physically. This issue is two-fold, and largely concerns the fact that we no longer have a reason to move as much during the day. We don’t even need to pop next door to speak with a colleague, because they’re right at the end of a button! This one-pose working method can be problematic, especially when you consider that most of us don’t have ergonomic chairs or the like. As such, overcoming this means thinking about your equipment. Investing in a decent office chair is especially vital, as are additions like back pain relief products that can take some of the strain. And, of course, getting up from your desk matters, even if it’s just to make a cup of coffee!
3 – Burnout
Remote work means that an average 59% of employees take less time off, a fact that’s resulted in around 69% experiencing burnout. That’s hardly surprising considering that we can no longer leave the stress of the office after a long day. In fact, the stats show that many of us don’t even feel able to have a specific ‘finish’ time when our offices are in our homes. This is terrible news, and it’s easy to fix with the simple implementation of a routine. Like in the office, workers need to set themselves start and finish times that they stick to. This is made easier by keeping your office separate if possible, but even if your desk is in the corner of your living room, make sure not to sit there all night long!
Do you find that working remotely has impacted you in a negative way? Let me know in the comments below!
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