It seems like working from home has gone from dream to reality overnight. And the way that we view work has changed forever. As the number of remote workers has increased dramatically, working from home has become the new normal.
While only a couple of years ago, home office used to be viewed with suspicion by bosses, it has become a standard work practice among businesses and corporations alike. As a result, social interaction during the working day has been restricted to Zoom calls. And as we had to adapt to this whole new way of working and communicating, everything started to feel a bit surreal.
In this article, we’ll discuss the biggest challenge when working from home, and we’ll also explore options for how to cope with it.
The new normal
Before working from home became so popular, people hadn’t realized how much energy they get from being in the office around their colleagues. Offices provided space to share ideas, socialize and maintain a work-life balance. And they used to take that for granted. Workers used to think of desks as prison cells, where they were chained for eight hours a day. But now that all of this is gone, they start appreciating all the positives that office work brings.
In fact, according to a recent survey, 61% of more than 1,500 UK respondents said they would return to work immediately if they could. Also, more than half of Facebook’s employees want to get back to the office as soon as possible.
But why is that? Why did the office desk suddenly become a symbol of freedom rather than a prison cell? Why do so many employees feel that the cons of working from home outweigh the pros? The answer is simple – loneliness. While remote working life may impact behavior and performance at work, it could also have a negative effect on mental health. Social and mental health issues, including feelings of loneliness, are the main reasons why so many remote workers want to return to their offices.
We need to start talking about working from home loneliness
As people have transformed their living rooms into home offices and their couches into meeting areas, many of them have reported experiencing mental health challenges. A 2021 study examining the effect of home offices among employees found out that 16% of them are struggling with loneliness. And by the looks of it, the workforce will be continuing to work this way from now on. That’s why finding the answers to the issues that working from home brings, especially when it comes to loneliness, is incredibly important.
The effects of work from home loneliness can be damaging to workeрs’ mental health in the long term. For instance, they might lose their social skills and even behave in ways that promote more loneliness. Lonely workers can also become less approachable as they start being overly cautious about being rejected by their peers. Some people are more prone to loneliness, especially if they have already felt that way in the office.
People who are experiencing feelings of loneliness due to the rapid change of environment are starting to simulate office work online. There are video chat groups, such as Study Together, that are becoming more and more popular. Anyone who’s trying to do something productive, regardless if it’s study or work, can join one of the hundreds of video chat rooms and focus on their tasks while in a group with others. This could have something to do with loneliness and how people are starting to battle loneliness in the most creative ways with the use of technology.
While being introverted is a personal characteristic, loneliness isn’t a trait. It’s more of a motivational state that one develops under certain circumstances. In this case, those circumstances are working under isolating and challenging conditions. On the bright side, unlike many personal characteristics, people can resolve the issue of loneliness.
How to cope with working from home loneliness
For many people working from home, loneliness is a result of rapid change in the environment. Also, according to research on how to combat this negative emotion, loneliness triggers the fight or flight stress response. Therefore, now that people are getting lonelier, we must recognize and talk about the problem. Coping with working from home loneliness isn’t easy, but it’s also not impossible to overcome.
If you’re struggling with loneliness caused by isolation or if you know somebody that needs help with battling loneliness, you might be interested in what we have to say next. Here are some things that could be helpful if you want to take action against working from home loneliness.
Self-compassion
York University has conducted a study on ways to cope with remote working loneliness and found out that, in this case, self-compassion is key. It’s important to acknowledge our feelings and emotions, but we shouldn’t let them consume us. That’s why if you’re experiencing feelings of loneliness and if you’re prone to depression, you must realize that your happiness depends on your own kindness. Remind yourself that you’re not the only one and what you’re going through is an overall experience during isolation.
Make plans after work
Something you can incorporate into your day-to-day routine is to ‘get out of the Matrix’ and make plans after work. Digital technology should not be a substitute for human connection; therefore, try to go out and socialize. Keep in mind that it might still not be entirely safe to gather in large groups, so take all the precautions needed.
Some people experience social anxiety after staying home for so long, so don’t feel obliged to socialize if that doesn’t come naturally to you. Still, engage in outdoor activities even if you’re on your own. You’ll be surprised how much some change of scenery might improve your day and overall mental health.
Make use of your flexibility
There’s always a bright side to any seemingly negative situation. Working from home could be depressing, but it also has numerous benefits. For example, you don’t lose time and money in commuting, meals get easier as you can cook in your own kitchen, and you can do your work when you’re most productive. But the biggest advantage of working from home is undoubtedly location flexibility.
It has become more and more popular to work in different locations. Moving around with your laptop and working from other locations could improve productivity and mental health at the same time. Libraries, cafes, and even collaborative outdoor workspaces are all great options to work outside your home. If your flat is unsuited for work and it makes you feel even more lonely, try to look for such locations around you and work outside of your home at least once a week.
If you’re interested to know more about the benefits of working from home, you might find our article on the topic interesting.
Overall, there’s no doubt that the biggest challenge when working from home is loneliness. Employers should take it seriously, and they should provide workers with access to mental health resources. But accepting your faith and convincing yourself that you can’t overcome loneliness is not the right move. There are many things one can do to work towards a more positive attitude. Being kind to yourself is step one. The rest will follow easily.
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What Is The Biggest Challenge Of Working From Home
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