One of the biggest concerns (probably after collaboration) most people have about remote work is that it may end up making people feel lonely.
In Microsoft’s 2022 New Future of Work Report, researchers found that remote work adds to job satisfaction but can also make employees feel “socially isolated, guilty and trying to overcompensate.”
But remote work increases well-being too. Studies have supported that as well.
How is that possible?
We don’t have to complicate it.
This is a shift – and it WILL look like a mixed bag. Like any major change, a lot will go behind adapting it and making it work for ourselves.
Since remote and hybrid work brings with them a host of benefits (both personal and financial), it only makes sense to round its edges off and find balance.
These are some suggestions to eliminate cabin fever while working remotely:
- Routine: If you have no schedule because you think you can work any time of the day since you’re at home, you’re really not doing work-life integration right. Get into a routine. And consciously set time for fun activities.
- Exercise: Traditional working models ate up time and space for workouts. You have plenty on your hand now. Research shows that exercising boosts our mental health and increases feelings of wellness.
- Co-working spaces: If you’re the kind who likes the feeling of community that the traditional working environment provided, co-working spaces are for you. They are quiet and peaceful but also offer social opportunities and human interaction that full remote work may not.
- Travel: If it’s something you can comfortably do, going on a workation is one of the best ways to detangle from work without actually taking a leave from it. Plan a short trip with friends and family and get the break you need. Remember, even though you’re working remotely from home, it still works and you deserve unwinding activities. But just remember; a workcation means that you work in workhours and vacation thereafter.
Author – People Practices Team, Jackstien Practices
