Working from home has become the norm for a lot of people. Whether you’re fully remote or taking a hybrid approach, working from home is still relatively new to most businesses. When the pandemic first happened, a lot of businesses didn’t have a plan for mass remote working. This led them to scramble for a solid strategy that would allow their employees to work properly and not cause disruption to daily operations. Trying to get everyone’s home offices set up became crucial and businesses all over were looking for the best solutions.Some UK-based companies utilised stores that sold office furniture in London to kit out their employees. Once everyone was settled, another question popped up and that was “Is working from home good for people’s mental health?”. Keep reading to find out the answer…
Reduce Stress
One of the key benefits that people find when working from home is that they’re less stressed because their environment is calmer. Too much stress can be terrible for your mental health, and it can exasperate symptoms. However, remote working has allowed people to keep stress to a minimum, helping them feel more relaxed throughout their day. Stress has a knock-on effect on the rest of your life as it can prevent you from sleeping and even decrease your appetite. But having a quiet, work-focused space at home can do wonders for your stress levels and help keep your overall wellbeing in check.
Get More Sleep
Sleep is essential for your body to function properly, and not having it can affect your mental health. Sleep helps your body and mind to recover from your day, so suffering from insomnia or low-quality sleep can really hinder your wellbeing. However, working from home can actually allow you to get more sleep than ever before! With no morning or evening commute, you can get up later and go to bed earlier. Previously you may have only been getting 5 hours a night, you can easily get over 7. Some people find that if they don’t get enough sleep then their mental health suffers for it. Once you start to get enough sleep continuously,you’ll start to find that your mental health improves, and you wake up feeling more motivated than ever!
Work-Life Balance
Working from home instantly allows you to have a better work-life balance and that in turn, can immensely help with your mental health. This method of working allows you to have more free time after and before work, giving you the opportunity to catch up on things that make you happy. For instance, something as simple as being able to go to the gym before work can really boost your serotonin levels and keep you motivated throughout the day. You’ll be able to spend more time with family and even pick up a new hobby. Having more control over your home life can really help improve your mental health and this newfound control wouldn’t be possible without working from home.
The Negatives
Although there are a lot of benefits for your mental health, remote working does have some downsides that may make it unsuitable for some people. One feeling that’s been reported is isolation as people are unable to connect with colleagues as they once did. It can be particularly hard for more reserved people to start a new remote role as well as they may find it difficult to communicate digitally and prefer face-to-face interactions. If these feelings of loneliness aren’t dealt with, they can have a negative impact on your mental health. Depending on where you work as well, you may find yourself lacking in support too. This can be through no fault of your own or the company, but remote working requires a different approach when it comes to providing support, and not all businesses may be aware of that. If you struggle too much with your daily tasks, you might then start to see a decrease in your moods and notice that you feel anxious a lot of the time. If you are feeling anything like this, then make sure to speak to your line manager or a trusted colleague as they may not realise just how much you’re suffering.
Happier In General
The positive impact remote working has on mental health greatly outweighs the negative. Studies have shown that people just feel happier in general by being able to work from the comfort of their own homes. They may find they even get more done thanks to their improved mental health. People also report higher motivation which bad mental health can actually get rid of completely, so being able to feel ready for the day can have a wonderful impact on your productivity. People who are struggling with their mental health may have found it difficult to get out of bed and commute each day and be around people. But remote working gives them the chance to get back on their feet and still retain their work-life without compromise.
