You are currently viewing Working From Home: Is it Good or Bad for Your Emotional Health?

Working From Home: Is it Good or Bad for Your Emotional Health?

When you work from home, you can work whenever you want and wherever you want. The downside to working from home is that you don’t have to interact with other people very often, which can be isolating and affect your emotional health.

emotional health

Malcolm Gladwell, the renowned social thinker and the author of ‘Tipping Point’ said in an interview that it was not in your best interest to work from home. Gladwell made comments on the Diary of a controversial CEO.    Gladwell, like many other pop psychology pundits, can be confusing to read. I will take a deep breath and explain what he seems to be saying.

Since Gladwell said it was not in our best interest to work remotely, people have been angry. Gladwell noted that offices mattered when he returned to the conversation. Gladwell is correct about what’s happening. No one has been able to prove that working from home improves our social connections. We should think carefully about how we plan to work in the future after this. More than half of employees don’t like the social opportunities provided at their workplace. People who cannot form meaningful connections at work are more likely to quit than people who can develop meaningful relationships. Gladwell commented that working remotely was offensive to many businesses and employees. Our brains are constantly thinking about other people and doing things that would be inappropriate. Our brains are always saying something that isn’t true.

When it comes to remote work, your brain is not always on the same wavelength. It would be devastating if someone took away your car keys as a teenager. Losing your job would be very similar to that. What is it about this that makes it so? When people heard that, they were in danger of losing their independence. They were threatened with losing the item. After Gladwell made a powerful comment about working remotely, many people felt the same way. People thought people would lose their freedom to work from home because it came from someone so influential. People feared for their safety when it became clear that their independence would be attacked.

Autonomy and emotional health.

Humans need to function well to have autonomy, which is one of three psychological nutrients. The ability to do what you want allows you to do what you want. Being able to decide on what you want to do is what it’s all about. There are constraints that others may place on you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t decide what you want to do. A feeling of freedom is when you can choose what to do and how to do it. Being self-sufficient does not mean being able to work anywhere else; it means being connected to other people. That’s where our brain gets conflicting information. Connection is one of our most critical psychological nutrients.

The crux of the debate is whether to work remotely or in person. As we have never experienced, conflicts are also being experienced by our brains and soul. Your brain wants to be in control. Your soul wants to be connected. Our souls need to be connected as people want to be independent. How can a leader make the best of remote work? Your brain doesn’t know about human connection. Researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of Berkeley recently collaborated to conduct experiments in public places. People do very well socializing with other people.

Random passengers were grouped into three groups based on their communication skills. The three separate groups were kept from each other and focused on what happened that day. The command condition was where passengers were told to behave in the usual way. Doing what they usually would, but not talking to anyone. People who were told to socialize with other people on the train and get to know more people in the neighbourhood were the three different groups created.

Emotional health and connections

The results of the study were quite remarkable. People enjoyed socializing more in the connection condition, whether they initiated it or not, and whether they were extraverted. The research found that many people felt threatened by being told to stop working remotely. A good thing is this. If they were asked before they took part in the experiment which condition they would be most satisfied with, they would choose solitude. They chose to be isolated if they felt isolated. People thought that talking to others wouldn’t be pleasant. Even for shy people, having a short conversation is not worth it. Research shows that our brains are stupid and that socializing with others makes us feel better. If you work remotely, you’ll be happier or be able to do more things to be satisfied. Your brain wants to be alone; Your soul needs connection.

You can make meaningful connections while working remotely, but it is not as satisfying as being alone. If you don’t have strong relationships with the people you spend the most time with during the day — your peers — you’ll feel isolated. That’s when it becomes unexpectedly tricky for you to feel connected. You’re very susceptible to feeling isolated and lonely. Robin Williams, a great actor and comedian, said that I used to think the worst thing to happen in my life was to be alone. It’s not that easy, but it is not that difficult to feel lonely when you’re alone. The worst thing you can do in your life is to end up with people who make you feel like you’re all alone. That’s not what life is about. It’s about becoming friends with people who make you feel like you’re entirely alone. Working at a job that allows us to build relationships is one of the best ways to do that.

We have plenty of time to make connections when we are not working. Please don’t waste it hiding behind screens. Remote work has many advantages, evident to everyone (short commute time, flexibility with work schedule, etc.). ), but the long-term damage from being isolated and lonely can be very severe (losing interest in your job, isolation, and loneliness), and can be fatal ( stress, depression, etc. Gladwell is right: It’s healthier and happier to live together. It’s in everyone’s best interest to be together. We’re stronger when we work together. If we work together, we can accomplish more things. It is true that if we all work together, we can achieve more things. It’s in our best interest to be connected. We feel safe and connected and that we belong together.

The results of the study were quite impressive. People enjoyed socializing more in the connection condition, whether they initiated it or not, and whether they were extraverted. The research found that many people felt threatened by being told to stop working remotely. A good thing is this. If they were asked before they took part in the experiment which condition they would be most satisfied with, they would choose solitude. They chose to be isolated if they felt isolated. People thought that talking to others wouldn’t be pleasant. Even shy people think that having a short conversation is not worth it. Research shows that our brains are stupid and that socializing with others makes us feel better. Is it possible that if you work remotely, you’ll be happier or be able to do more things to be happy? Your brain wants to be alone; Your soul needs connection.

We all need connections to feel connected. We’re stronger when we work together. Remember, if you work remotely, you’re still working! Keep up with your projects and goals and stay engaged with your colleagues.

Finally, as a remote worker, you know that Hold Everything is there to give you support in all aspects of office admin. Now serving small businesses  in leafy Wimbledon as well as Mayfair