Does working from home increase anxiety?

Remote and flexible working has become very popular in the last couple of years. In the past, many employers weren't willing to accept the idea of remote work. They were mainly concerned with the loss of productivity, especially with employees not being under constant supervision.

But as we later discovered,  people working from home were more productive . The whole idea seemed perfect because we now had more time with family, for exercise, and for hobbies. Unfortunately, this hasn't exactly been the picture-perfect scenario for everyone. Many remote workers are working longer hours, which has negatively affected their mental health. Some feel guilty and lonely and try to overcompensate at work.

Remote work presents unique challenges for our mental well-being and requires new coping strategies. does working from home increase anxiety

Remote work may be gaining popularity, but it's no secret that it's accompanied by a good share of challenges. For some, being at home means additional responsibilities, while others may lack the necessary resources they need to work. In addition, routine changes and uncertainties about the future can increase anxiety levels. Let's talk about some of these challenges.

With remote work, you can go for a few days without talking to anyone. We often see this with people who don't have families. You may have  overcome workplace distractions , but it also means you have no one to talk to. Working from the office allows you to vent to your coworkers about a few challenges, which can be relieving while interactive.

Unfortunately, remote work disconnects you from the rest of the world. Even if you enjoy working alone, the lack of in-person contact for a prolonged time will soon get to you, leading to feelings of loneliness.

While we all know how important it is to  set boundaries between work and personal life , working remotely makes that a little harder. That's because your work is just a couple of feet away. You can't help yourself but work through lunch break or check those emails and answer calls from clients after lunch hours.

Some people who work from home don't have a set time to stop working. They'll go past the set working hours to meet targets or make that extra sale. Failing to set boundaries between work and personal life may initially seem harmless. Unfortunately, over time, it leads to poor mental health. You can also find it hard to unplug. Where you used to have a thriving personal life, work has now become the center of your existence.

Disconnecting from work can be challenging, especially in a society where we have normalized over-commitment. Our days are full of meetings, emails to respond to, tasks to accomplish, and deadlines to meet. It's like we can't  resist the pressure to overwork . You'll likely be exhausted, stressed, and overworked when you fail to disconnect from work.

With time, this will take a toll on your mental health. Not only does it make you less productive, but it will also lead to high anxiety levels. Both your body and mind need to recuperate after a long day. When you fail to unplug, the results won't be pleasant.

Another unique challenge of remote work is maintaining a work-life balance. In the office, it's easy to close your laptop in the evening and forget about work until the following day. But working from home can be a bit challenging. You'll find that you're working more hours than you should without even realizing it's a problem. Some  signs of a poor work-life balance  include having no social life and striving for perfection.

Also, most people working from home hardly have schedules. This can make you feel like you have to be online or available all the time, contributing to a poor work-life balance.

Does working from home increase anxiety? It depends. Working remotely means missing out on social interactions, such as catching up with a colleague over tea break or after working hours. And while these may seem like minor things, they have a huge effect on our well-being. At the end of the day, you have no one to tell how your weekend went or the small things happening in your life, which can feel isolating.

In addition, a lot of employees working remotely say their anxiety is caused by  working long hours  because of fear their bosses will think they don't work hard enough. It's particularly hard for people who have to work at home while some of their colleagues are in the office. Feelings of anxiety are likely to arise because of feeling like they are missing out or being passed over for promotions.

It's possible for remote work to worsen existing  mental health disorders  such as panic attacks, depression, general anxiety, and social anxiety disorder. For instance, one of the ways people try to navigate depression is through socializing.

Working remotely means you don't see other people as much, which can worsen signs of depression. In addition, regular video calls mean seeing yourself on screen a lot. Not everyone is comfortable with this. Some people will feel self-conscious about their appearance, which can worsen self-esteem issues.

We might all agree that working from home has some benefits, but we can't ignore the negative long-term effects on our mental well-being. Some of those long-term effects include isolation and loneliness, stress, and anxiety. We all need social interactions to thrive, but working from home can rob us of that opportunity, leading to loneliness and social isolation.

Even with these negative impacts of remote work, it's not all hopeless. You can develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with working from home. The mechanisms can help you learn how to unplug from work and have a healthy work-life balance.

Without any strategies in place, it's easy to fall into bad coping mechanisms such as drinking or taking drugs. And if that has been the case for you, it's never too late to find an  alcohol treatment program  to deal with addiction.

It's also wise to try and maintain social connections. As we have said, humans thrive in social connections, and interacting with others will give you a sense of community. Some of the tips to help with social connections include the following:

• Nurture the current relationships you have
• Make time to move around
• Work outside your home from time to time
• Attend company events
• Use social media to connect with customers, clients, and networking contacts

Understandably, remote work stress is inevitable. But there are healthy ways to cope with it to prevent severe mental health disorders. Some ideas that can help include the following:

• Make time to unwind,
• Interact with other people
• Take regular breaks from work
• Avoid drugs and alcohol  as a coping mechanism
• Recognize when you need professional help

As we have seen, remote working is not all roses. It can affect our anxiety levels or worsen existing mental health conditions. We know that working from home can increase anxiety. Many remote workers experience problems such as loneliness, difficulty disconnecting from work, and a poor work-life balance. Thankfully, there are healthy coping mechanisms you can develop, such as taking breaks and having a schedule to avoid falling into bad patterns. Doing so can help you cope and maintain your mental well-being.