Working from home and mental health are topics that go together differently for different people. I’ve been in an office 3 times in 5 years. I don’t know if I could go back full time if I had to. And I definitely wouldn’t be able to do what I am doing now since I support clients in different states that aren’t even adjacent. My wife, on the other hand, enjoys her hybrid schedule more, being in the office a few days a week. There is no one right answer for everyone.
There are many reasons why someone could be working from home. These include needing focused work time, the occasional pandemic, having to relocate, or a better work-life balance. Even though working from home has a ton of positive benefits, mental health can be impacted positively or negatively, depending on the person.
Mostly Positive
In general, people with flexible working arrangements are about 4% happier and 11% more productive. Sometimes it happens organically, but it really requires a company culture that trusts people and actively encourages everyone to do their best work. People working for trusting executives are less likely to worry about how they think they will be perceived by working from home. So there’s generally less work-related stress all around. The idea of working in different places is a much more fluid concept. But whether it is cultural or personal habits, not everyone does well in a remote setting. Or dealing with a hybrid schedule where they are in different places on different days.
Not Everyone Adapts Easily
While working from home, it is much harder to separate work and home. Generally, the goal is to have a part of the house sectioned off to be a “work area”, but with it being easily accessible, checking emails here and there can turn into checking emails here and there more and more. Separating space is important, but also coming up with a consistent schedule (to the extent possible) is also important for most people. Some people will actually get in their car and go for a quick drive in the morning just to get themselves in work mode.
Some workers are so conditioned to having a manager hover over them and being given specific tasks to work on, that they may not perform well when they are self-directed. I started my career in an unusual area in the military. When I showed up to my first duty assignment, my boss’s introduction was, “The guy you are replacing left 6 months ago. I don’t know what he did. I don’t know what you do. There’s your desk. Good luck.” For me, this was like a gift since I like to create things. For others, not having someone tell you what to do can be stressful or confusing.
Managers need to understand that not everyone will handle being remote in the same way. You are likely to hear from the people who like it. But the people who are less comfortable may not say anything unless prompted. Spend some time checking in with people to see how they are feeling about work, regardless of whether they are working from.
Common Challenges
The most common reasons why mental health is negatively impacted can be due to loneliness and isolation, plus anxiety, stress, and pressure. Loneliness and isolation come from sitting at home and not interacting with coworkers or clients in person. Spending all day on Teams or Zoom is not the same experience for most people. For me, I see the people I work with several times a week. It’s not in person, but I don’t see the interaction as significantly different. For other people, they feel cut off just being connected digitally.
While at home, you do not have the opportunity to poke your head into your coworker’s office to take a quick break or to sit around and chat in the break room. Stress and anxiety can come from the pressure of having to hustle 24/7, employees tend to check emails outside of the typical working hours because they are at home with their equipment, and sometimes bosses will cross the line of personal time after work. When work starts and stops can become a point of contention and frustration. This is especially true when managers and workers have different ideas on the subject.
Focus on What Matters
It is important for employees and employers to realize that mental health is an aspect of work, regardless of where it takes place. I’ve worked in really toxic workplaces, and I’ve been in offices I looked forward to going into. Leaders need to remember that work is not a place. It’s how we get things done. People need to feel good about the experience, whether they are in a crowded office, in a coworking space, alone in the basement, or on a beach in Portugal. Leaders need to check in regularly wherever they are. People can only do their best work when they take care of their mental health first. And that’s more likely to happen if leaders are looking out for their people.
