Remote work is getting more popular (which is why you’re getting this email). Remote workers are not only more productive and profitable for businesses to employ, but they are also happier, healthier, in control of their finances, and tend to stay with their companies longer.
Those benefits, coupled with location freedom and the power to set your schedule, make remote work a heavy contender for sustainable business models and employees. The nature of work is shifting, and this course is designed to equip you for those exciting changes.
Remote work sounds like the dream for some, but the stereotypical pictures of laptops on a beach are not an accurate representation.
It’s fairly misleading, since the few times I’ve tried to work from the beach, I got a poor Internet connection, sand in my keyboard, and it was bad for my posture. 😀
Remote working sounds like the business revolution we all need, but it’s not something you can simply switch to and hope for the best. As with anything, there are downsides to remote working and many challenges to overcome, as well.
According to Buffer’s State of Remote Work Report, remote workers struggle with unplugging from their work, loneliness, and communicating.
As a professional, you need to think hard and decide whether going remote is a good choice for your overall success (whether that looks like balanced family life, starting your own job, selling real estate, or something else).
Have you noticed a change in your employees’ mental health now that they are working from home?
Do they feel more stressed out despite not having a commute? Are they battling feelings of isolation even though they can clock in wherever they want?
Working from home can challenge employees’ mental health. It can turn normally optimistic, productive worker bees into tired, unmotivated, irritable toads.
So before you hit rock bottom, learn how to spot the signs of declining mental health so you can address your next steps.
What are the psychological effects of remote working?
Here are the three most commonly reported challenges that remote workers face:
Isolation and Loneliness
Employees may feel isolated when their home suddenly becomes their office.
They miss their coworkers. They miss chit-chatting while having coffee or lunch together. They miss celebrating together.
This camaraderie doesn’t translate over Slack. And they can feel lonely and isolated.
According to a Buffer Survey, 20% of remote employees report loneliness as their biggest challenge.
Anxiety and Stress
The boundary between work and home life blurs for people who work in the same place they sleep. They can feel pressure and stress.
People have to manage their time, to-do, house chores, family, and projects. They may feel anxious to ‘be on’ when they should be off.
Depression
Anxiety, stress, loneliness, and isolation can lead to depression. People feel stuck, and it causes a loss of productivity.
They feel frustration, irritation, loss of interest, sleep disturbance, tiredness, restlessness, trouble concentrating, and physical problems.
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as physical activity and eating nourishing food.
Improve Your Mental Health By Switching Your Routine
The good thing is, you’re not necessarily stuck in your current routine. You have the ability to mix things up to help your productivity.
If you are an employee, manager, or even a CEO struggling from the monotony of your remote work routine, try out these tips:
– Getting a Wi-Fi hotspot will allow you to be connected to the internet anywhere you go.
– Use the Pomodoro Technique, which gives you 25 minutes of focused time and a 5-minute break after each concentrated burst.
– Try journaling. It is a wonderful way to take some time for yourself in the morning to clear your head.
– Take some time to decorate your space, and make it functional and inspiring to be in.
– Investing in a standing desk is a great way to improve your remote work routine. It will allow you to stand up and get in some activity every day.
– Be kind to yourself if your project wasn’t as successful as you predicted, or if you weren’t able to hit everything on your to-do list.
– Limit time spent in meetings. Meetings can be helpful if they are structured productively. Have a clear meeting agenda.
– Daily standups are a great way to see your team’s faces and understand what they’re up to.
– Create a team challenge and offer a gift card to a favorite store for the winner.
