Everyone in this age is familiar with the term “Work from home”. This signifies a new age of work culture where one simply needs a stable internet connectivity and a good laptop to operate and finish work tasks successfully. On social media we see various individuals travelling and backpacking through the globe whilst working remotely. What started out as a rather peculiar and uncommon culture has seeped into various sectors of corporate with more and more individuals working either fully remote or in a hybrid model.?
?Some stats to support the above statement are –?
- As of 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, while 28.2% work a hybrid model according to a Forbes study.?
- According to Forbes Advisor, 98% of workers want to work remote at least some of the time.??
RISE IN POPULARITY OF REMOTE WORK?
The work-from-home (WFH) model dates back nearly three decades but was popularized and normalized by the pandemic just a few years ago. Since then, the WFH model has become standard operating procedure for millions of Americans. In 2021, it was found that nearly three times more people were working in remote positions than in 2019.?
The sectors which make up for the largest number of WFH employees include the Information Technology sector, Marketing, Management and Consulting.?
?CHALLENGES THAT A REMOTE EMPLOYEE TYPICALLY FACES-?
- BLURRED BOUNDARIES BETWEEN A PERSONAL AND WORK LIFE- One of the most glaring problems that a remote employee faces are the unclear line that one treads on whilst working from their homes. Without a clear separation of a work and personal space, one often finds themselves spiralling towards burnout and not able to relax or unwind after work.?
- SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS- Working from home escalates the feeling of loneliness especially for individuals who thrive on social interactions. There is also a lack of face-to-face interaction which further aids to the lack of social connections.?
- LACK OF STRUCTURE- Remote works offer flexibility but it lacks a structure that is required for any employee to be productive. This leads to poor management of time and prioritisation of tasks, no set hours for work or for leisure activities.?
- LACK OF COLLABORATION AMONGST TEAM MEMBERS- Brainstorming ideas as a team is harder in a remote setting than an office setting due to the lack of physical communication which leads to unclear interpretation of texts or instructions.?
- LACK OF PRODUCTIVITY- Working from home comes with its set of distractions, whether they are household chores or pets, it is a challenge to maintain focus with these distractions.?
With the work from home model becoming popular day by day and the future morphing into one which will have this model incorporated across various sector here are a compiled set of tips to navigate this emerging working model effectively without a burnout-?
- ESTABLISHING A ROUTINE- One of the most crucial aspects of maintaining productivity and preventing lag while working remotely is through establishing a solid routine.? A good routine is not necessarily a strict one but one where all activities can be incorporated with proper time allocation for each activity spanning throughout the day.??
- SETTING HEALTHY BOUNDARIES- Establishing a clear boundary between work and personal life is important for maintaining overall well-being. Allocating specific work hours, creating a designated workspace, establishing specific areas for leisure activities etc are all norms for setting boundaries whilst working remotely.?
- ADOPTING STARTEGIES TO COPE WITH STRESS- Remote work gives rise to the overwhelming expectation to be constantly available. Employees working from home face the dilemma of handling their personal routine that comes with running a home and being efficient at completing work tasks at the same time. In such cases, meditation and relaxation techniques prove to be helpful in managing stress. Rather than scrolling through the phone, during the breaks one can practice healthy habits like taking a walk or performing yoga, breathing exercises to help align goals more effectively.?
- FORGING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS- Although remote working has ample of benefits, one underlined issue that comes with is the feeling of social isolation. As human beings, one craves social connections whether it is professional or personal, in the realm of the online world these connections are rarely formed. Interacting with co-workers outside of work through regular team calls, engaging in team building activities online or taking the time to meet one or more colleagues for coffee helps in expanding one’s social circle.??
- SEEKING HELP- Remote stress can aggravate feelings of anxiety, stress during times of uncertainty and greater workload. One shouldn’t hesitate to address problems and reach out for help to managers, HR or colleagues and team members as communication helps ease the flow of emotional distress at work.??
Navigating the working from home culture requires a multifaceted approach to ensuring an employee’s mental well-being and keeping productivity output at a maximum. Self-care tips ranging from having healthy routines to minimising distractions are important for workers to stay empowered. On top of this, companies need to cultivate an environment of support to increase engagement between workers and overall creating a healthier environment that benefits both the parties is important. Last but not least, the Work from home structure comes with its own setbacks but nevertheless it can be navigated effectively by adopting a holistic approach towards addressing the issues of mental health at a workplace and its close proximity to leading a fulfilling professional life.?
