The transition to remote work has its benefits, but it also makes some people wonder if there is a link between working from home and depression. Many workers experienced a decline in their mental health, even though they were enjoying flexible work options. According to a Journal of Public Health study, depressive symptoms as anxiety and loss of sleep have become common among the remote working population.
Working from home can go much to be desired if companies don’t take steps to support remote employees. With mental health in mind, employees and employers should work together to establish strategies to combat working from home and depression, among other mental health issues.
Does working from home cause depression?
It’s impossible to say for sure whether working from home causes depression. Further research is needed on this topic since current studies have revealed both positive and negative effects related to working from home.
Does working from home cause depression?
More research is needed to determine whether working from home causes depression. That said, remote work removes typical coworker interactions and work-life boundaries, which can be detrimental to mental health.
Although there is no official causal relationship, it is possible that working from home exacerbates the factors leading to depression. Remote work removes the incidental interactions that occur between colleagues in an office, sometimes resulting in feelings of isolation and loneliness. Many employees may also struggle to separate their work life from their personal life and extend their working hours, leading to Burnout and lack of sleep.
Other challenges can also impact employee well-being. Many people worry about their job security or financial situation, whether they work remotely or not. It is therefore crucial not to confuse these variables with the potential consequences of working from home.
The link between working from home and depression is unclear, but remote work often has downsides if employees and companies don’t prioritize mental health.
Effects of working from home on mental health
Although remote employees often have more freedom to organize their workday as they wish, working from home has also created new mental health concerns.
Weakened working relationships
Working from home can be taxing professional relationships that make jobs satisfying. According to a survey on happiness at work, 22 percent of employees think work alongside a work friend makes them just as or more productive, and 21% say it makes them more creative.
Being in the same room promotes collaboration between employees. This encourages people to share ideas and build stronger connections. Remote work doesn’t mean the end of these relationships, but it can dampen them if companies don’t have a plan to keep remote employees connected to each other.
Lack of work-life balance
Without a regular work routine, it’s easy to blur the lines between work and home life. Remote workers may end up overworking their hours since they can’t step away from their computer or home office. Increased connectivity means more availability, requiring employees to respond to calls and emails long after the workday has ended.
Not being in the office can also fuel fears about job security, making workers feel like they need to compensate by extending their work hours. All this has its own Negative consequences.
Employee burnout and fatigue
If employees don’t know how to set work-life boundaries, working from home can become a major stressor. Depleted energy levels and long work days are not part of a normal routine and often serve as Red Flags About Employee Burnout.
But even if employees limit their work schedule to regular hours, remote work can still have a draining effect. Phenomena like Zoom fatigue occur when teams have to participate in too many virtual meetings without enough space to recover. Companies that do not respect individuals’ boundaries risk alienating employees working from home and fueling a sense of discontent among their staff.
Benefits of working from home
Although working from home has its challenges, it also offers A lot of advantages.
No travel
Without needing to travel to and from work, employees can devote more hours of their day to doing what they want. Remote workers have more time to complete their tasks, exercise, and enjoy their personal hobbies.
Scheduling flexibility (especially for parents and guardians)
This flexibility has been an even greater boon for parent employees or are responsible for caring for their family members. Workers can now spend more time helping their children with homework or providing extra help to grandparents.
Geographic diversity
Since companies don’t require employees to commute to the office, workers have more options for where they can live. Some employees may want to be closer to family and friends, while others choose to move to a dream destination.
Mental Health Tips for Working From Home
Companies can establish employee wellness strategies, so that morale and productivity stay stable while working remotely. Individual employees can also implement some mental health tips to help maintain their well-being while working from home.
Mental Health Tips for Working From Home
- Structure your day around new routines.
- Dedicate a physical space to work.
- Take plenty of breaks.
- Connect with others.
- Hold your employer accountable.
1. Structure your day around new routines
No longer spending time arriving at an office and packing for the day, it’s essential for remote workers to find replacement activities that close out their workday. They can start their morning by listening to relaxing music, drinking a cup of coffee, or reading a few pages of a book. At the end of the day, they may want to close their laptop, take a walk, or stretch for a few minutes. Work-from-home rituals can turn actions into signals that tell your brain when to prepare for work and when to turn off.
2. Dedicate physical space to work
Setting up a room or space solely for work purposes can be another way to reinforce work-life boundaries. Home offices make it easier to imitate the process of entering a zone where you need to leave your personal belongings behind and concentrate on your professional tasks. It’s also handy when you need to join a call or team meeting without interruption.
3. Take plenty of breaks
Working from home can confine employees to the same area all day, making work seem endless. Breaks are a simple way to disrupt a monotonous schedule and prevent workers from becoming mentally exhausted. Step away from your workspace and grab a snack, run a quick errand, or solve a short crossword to take your mind off work issues.
4. Connect with others
Even if you’ve developed an individual work-from-home routine, it’s important to make space in your schedule for work colleagues and friends. Employees who live in the same city can organize a coworking session at a local coffee shop or at an after-work dinner. Teams spread over greater distances can also participate virtual team building activities. These methods may deviate from traditional approaches, but they can still be effective in helping remote workers feel closer to their colleagues.
5. Hold your employer accountable
Employers are also responsible for the well-being of their employees, so workers should ensure their company has mental health policies in place. Paid sick leave, free consulting services, and fitness reimbursements are a few features that organizations can include in their health benefits to maintain the mental well-being of employees.
Employees also need to ensure that everyone benefits from these benefits, especially managers and senior executives. Getting top-level workers to take time off and follow other healthy practices removes the stigma surrounding mental health and normalizes mental well-being at work.
