If given a choice, most of us will prefer to work from home, mainly because it saves commuting time. But in the long term, remote work is bound to adversely impact our well-being – physical and mental.
Love it or loathe it, work-from-home is here to stay. Companies have willy-nilly accepted it, seeing that employee productivity did not suffer when Covid forced a shift from in-person work. When given a choice, most employees prefer to work from home, mainly because it saves them commuting. But in the long term, people might realize that remote work is not good for their well-being, physical and mental.
A recent compilation of evidence-based studies investigating the mental and physical effects of remote work has found mixed results, reports The New York Times in a recent report. Some workers thrived as improved work-life balance gave them more time for exercising and bonding with family, while others became less active, put on weight, and reported feelings of isolation and depression.
Commuting may be a hassle, but it forces us to move about. Getting ready to go to the office involves activity. Remote work eliminates much of our daily physical activity, which is among the most far-reaching and effective forms of preventive medicine. On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle is strongly linked to disease. Both life expectancy and health profile are negatively impacted by prolonged inactivity, warns Dr. Jordan D. Metzl, a sports medicine physician, writing for NYT.
With each technological advance (cars, computerization), humans have been moving less and less. Covid accelerated that trend over the past three years. It is not just exercise, data during the pandemic also showed much less non-exercise activity, daily steps from everyday living like walking to lunch, taking the stairs at work, and walking to the subway or through the parking lot.
America appears to be worst affected by the changes wrought by the pandemic. A recent survey found that roughly half the workforce here is doing remote work. In Europe and Asia, 75-80% cent workers are back in the office. As we move less, associated healthcare costs for society are bound to rise.
The effect of remote work on mental health is less obvious and less talked about. Human beings are social animals. “Much like the biological imperative to move, we also need to interact,” writes Dr Metzl. “Despite advances in technology, our brains thrive with in-person relationships. When in person, we learn to read body language, understand unstated nuances in communication, and work more effectively with others.” He references studies showing increased rates of depression and anxiety resulting from remote work. Zoom calls make it easier, but when they replace in-person communication, a sense of isolation creeps in. EEG studies have found that face-to-face interactions produced stronger, longer-lasting psychological connections than virtual ones.
From his practice, Dr Metzl reports some of his patients making the most of their increased time at home and living more active and healthier lifestyles, while others have developed back and neck pain and become less healthy over the past few years. National trends back him up, he says.
Now that remote work is here to stay and is known to have advantages and disadvantages, what is one to do? Dr Metzl advises the hybrid model of remote and work from the office to ensure socialization and daily movement. “But if you’re working fully remotely, set up specific meetings and times to exercise that will keep you accountable and plugged in. If your company calls for a return to in-person work, at least part-time, recognize this as favorable for your long-term health,” he concludes.
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