Working from the comfort of your own home might seem a paradise set up with avoiding traffic ,
spending extra time with your loved ones, and working anywhere . Yet , despite all its advantages remote work can be truly harmful to our mental health that's why it is very important to be aware of the potential negative consequences of WFH on our health.
First of all , work from home represents a completely virtual setup which means all the aspects of
communication such as customer meetings , internal meetings, and training are managed virtually
which somehow impacts the quality of human communication unlike work from the office which offers a real connection with other colleagues where communication is not only about work but also about other topics , we tend to take breaks with other colleagues , have lunch together , go for a short walk or even smoke a cigarette together . These small details have a huge impact on our psychology as they represent genuine moments of communication , interacting with others face-to-face is very important to protect our mental health. Added to that , remote work can impact our level in some of the soft skills related to communication such as emotional intelligence , public speaking, and non-verbal communication we communicate less face-to-face so we might use fewer communication patterns such as gestures and we tend to see fewer reactions : In other words, we tend to be more isolated from human communication.
Furthermore , other consequences of working from home can be falling into depression and burnout due to reduced social interaction and working extra time as this setup tends to push some professionals to become more workaholics.
What are the solutions that need to be adapted to protect our mental health while working from home?
Practice sports before the beginning of the business day :
Sport is very beneficial when It comes to getting more active and boosting positive energy and
happiness hormones . So , exercising for 15-20 minutes before starting your working day is an excellent idea that can help you start your day with a high level of motivation.
Take short breaks :
Taking short breaks can help us raise our productivity level and renew our energy , it also offers us the
chance to move from our desk.
Have a deep conversation with someone :
One of the defects of WFH is the lack of genuine connection with others , having a deep conversation
with someone is always welcome as it can help us overcome the feeling of being isolated and
exchanging ideas.
It can be discussing with your best friend or your sister an interesting topic about something you love: It can be an activity or a new hobby.
Try disconnecting from your PC by the end of the business day :
Some people tend to become workaholics when working from home and by the end of the business day , they don't mind working extra hours to finalize some of the pending tasks . While this seems to be an excellent idea driving great work results , it can destroy your productivity and work-life balance in the long run. So please keep this approach an exception when there are tasks with very tight deadlines and don't let it become a habit.
Spend time in nature :
When working in front of a PC the whole week in tend to be exposed for long hours to blue light which is very harmful as well as WIFI waves and a completely virtual setup which might make us feel more stressed and isolated . Spending time in nature at least once a week is an amazing idea when it comes to disconnecting from technology and attracting positive energy . So , all you have to do is to close your mobile and spend some time in nature it can be by the sea , mountain , forest, or any natural landscape .
Try hybrid work if possible:
If your company offers the opportunity to work onsite a few times a week do not hesitate to go for it .
Try to work from the office at least twice a week this will offer you the opportunity to meet with other
colleagues and also to experience a different work setup from the one you are already experiencing at home.
To conclude, with all the advantages offered by working from home unfortunately there are many
potential threats to our mental health , which is why we need to adopt the right habits to take advantage of the remote setup without damaging our mental health.