When I first started working remotely (many years ago, when my children were younger), the prospect of working from home seemed ideal — increased flexibility and lack of commute. I did this over a period of about 17 years. But over time (and more so in the second half of those years), the line between work and life blurred creating significant well-being challenges that I wasn’t prepared for.
For example, without a clear separation between work and personal life, I found myself working hours after dinner trying to solve problems because work was always just a few steps away. And because I had a work phone, I would also get phone calls during the night. It might also sound minor, but I also worked during what would otherwise have been termed a lunch break. The boundaries had completely blurred. I wasn’t being paid for all those extra unpaid hours, yet I felt compelled to keep working since the office was now in my home.
In addition to the work-life balance challenges, I soon felt pangs of loneliness and isolation. I missed the casual chats with coworkers and being part of an office community. All of my work communication was through devices, which was convenient, but not very fulfilling.
At the time, I was unaware of strategies I could use to maintain my wellbeing while working remotely. The isolation and lack of separation between work and life took a toll on my mental health. I ended up needing to see a psychologist and psychiatrist as a result.
Now I know just how common these remote work challenges are, and how important it is to be intentional about addressing them. Here are some of the key problems remote workers face and tactics to overcome them:
Lack of Social Interaction
While technology enables constant digital communication, it’s no substitute for face-to-face human connection. Remote workers miss out on daily social interactions and water cooler chats that are beneficial for wellbeing. The isolation and loneliness that can result has serious consequences, including increased stress, worse mental health, and higher risk of burnout. Humans are wired to be social creatures (Brown, 2012), so solely digital communication takes a toll over time.
Difficulty Establishing Boundaries
Without a commute separating work and personal life, work easily blends into nights and weekends. People feel pressure to be always available online and end up overworking without compensation. The toll of these blurred boundaries includes increased stress, work-life conflict, and burnout. When work spills into personal time, it can harm relationships, health, and overall wellbeing.
Increased Stress and Burnout
Lack of social support from coworkers, lack of separation between work and life, and pressure to be constantly available online can heighten stress. The cumulative result of these remote work challenges is often burnout. Symptoms of burnout include exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced productivity. If left unaddressed, burnout can have significant long-term impacts on both mental and physical health. Preventing burnout requires intentional efforts to manage stress and maintain boundaries.
In our new remote and hybrid work world, employers and employees need to proactively assess these well-being challenges and implement solutions before problems arise. If signs of decreased wellness do emerge, like burnout or work-life conflict, it’s crucial to acknowledge these issues quickly. Reach out for help or temporarily adjust work expectations rather than hoping the problems will resolve on their own.
I learned firsthand how important early intervention could have been. My hope is that by sharing my experience, other remote workers can recognize the red flags early and take steps to maintain boundaries and social connections before well-being declines too far. The technology may allow constant working, but we also need to unplug, connect with others, and take care of ourselves. Achieving that balance is possible with the right strategies and commitment.
References
Brown, B. (2012). Daring greatly: how the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent, and lead. New York, NY, Gotham Books.
Gaskell, A. (2023). It’s Important For Remote Work To Maintain Boundaries Between Personal And Professional Lives. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2023/02/07/its-important-for-remote-work-to-maintain-boundaries-between-personal-and-professional-lives/?sh=1692f1a048f2
Combating burnout, isolation, and anxiety in the remote workplace. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://about.gitlab.com/company/culture/all-remote/mental-health/
Startling Remote Work Burnout Statistics (2023): Apollo Technical. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.apollotechnical.com/remote-work-burnout-statistics/
Originally published at timcoatesinsights.wordpress.com on September 21, 2023.