Do you feel less human working from home?

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

In the beginning, you have taken remote working as a challenge and you realise that there are indeed many surprising benefits in a home environment. You save on cost and time of commute to the office, no need to dress up, less time wasted going out for lunch, more coffee breaks and more time for family and you even started an exercise regime!

After almost one and a half years working from your room, you feel exhausted and demotivated! Is it because the computer screen has invaded your life with the unusual frequency and length of work meetings? Virtual chats with colleagues keep increasing everyday replacing the face-to-face chats and lunch meetings have taken on new vigour! And surprise, surprise ....when you get off work, you move to another screen to relax!

The loneliness and isolation of remote work

Companies like Splunk, Affirm, and Microsoft saw a large spike in productivity in the first couple of months of quarantine, but over time, the loneliness of working at a home office affects productivity and job satisfaction.

Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics, a San Diego-based remote work consultancy says "The overworking is real...You don’t have the social cues you had in the office, around getting up and going to lunch, or quitting at the end of the day, so you just keep working.”

What you can do to become more human again....

1. Begin each day with a quiet time of contemplation.
   

2. Spend a few minutes connecting with colleagues by phone.
   

3. Work intensely and then take a few 10 minute breaks throughout the day to drink, interact with family or friends, to doodle, dance or stretch. Try these stretch exercises..
   

4. Protect your lunch break. DO NOT EAT IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER!
   

5. Cook at least one meal everyday instead of making a delivery order. Cooking is therapeutic and takes your mind off work or your boss! Try this 10 minute meals.
   

6. Relax after work and weekends - tend your garden, play with your pets, read a book, call your friends and family, indulge in your hobby.
   

7. Reach out to someone in need or contribute to a charity

As the pandemic continues to stump us, we have to shift gears, adjust our seats and navigate the twists and turns in order to survive and reach our goals in one piece. A hybrid work environment is going to change the way we think of work so buckle up and see you on the other side.