Up until now, studies on home working have focused on productivity and job satisfaction, but a new study published in Science raises questions about the mental health implications of working from home.
What the new study found...
The ‘Home Alone’ Study looked at over half a million Americans for 13 years between 2011 and 2024.
The number of home workers has quadrupled since the start of the pandemic. The study found that those working in ‘remotable’ sectors were at higher risk of feeling socially isolated, suffering from worsening mental health, and reducing their after-work socialisation. An increase in mental distress was recorded through the frequency of depression and antidepressant prescriptions in remote workers.
Does home working lead to loneliness?
This might all initially sound a little grim. Does home working lead to loneliness? Not so fast, there’s plenty of ways to boost your mental well-being while working from home…
Here are some top tips!
- Give yourself a reason to leave the house every day.
Break up your daily routine with a short walk, a coffee, a trip to the shops, anything to give yourself a change of scenery.
- Make plans to see people.
Working from home may give you more time in your week, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll choose to socialise with that bonus time. Be sure to get things in the diary so you don’t slip into the lazy habit of spending whole days without leaving the house, or engaging in meaningful human interaction – particularly if you live alone.
- Pick up the phone.
Call a colleague rather than sending an email. Don’t underestimate the value of a human-to-human connection via a quick conversation.
- Find people in your area.
A gym class, new hobby or volunteering can help replace the social interactions your workplace used to provide.
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