Remote workers are making the most of their new professional lifestyles, according to two researchers from Carleton University, who argue that making conscious, healthy decisions is the key to successful remote work. Masu.
In a new study published in the Environmental Science and Engineering series of journals, researchers Farzam Sepanta and Liam O'Brien find that while remote work has its advantages and disadvantages, many workers are less productive. I have found that I feel improved and believe my overall quality of life has improved since working remotely. switch.
Telework has become extremely popular since the pandemic. Many polls since the pandemic have shown increased interest in and preference for remote work careers.
Sepanta says it's no wonder his interviewees felt the same way.
“People enjoyed working remotely so much that some even changed careers to continue working remotely,” he said. “Can we say that our quality of life has improved? We need a larger sample size to know for sure, but people are interested in working remotely, and we can say that … working from home can improve your life. ”
For the study, the pair conducted in-depth interviews with more than a dozen remote workers who moved more than 20 kilometers away from their original locations when they switched to remote work.
Positive benefits for employees
“Our proposal was approved before the COVID-19 outbreak,” Sepanta said. “We were trying to find out how technology could improve remote working and what impact it would have on different areas such as transportation, the office, and the home. We're getting back to normal, but the big difference is that telework is prevalent. It gives us an opportunity to learn how people are living.”
The report, which will be followed up by a larger study in the coming months, shows that remote working can have many positive benefits for employees.
For one, employees tend to have more flexibility, allowing them to move outside of city centers without having to worry about long commutes to the office. According to Sepanta, the majority of interviewees decided to migrate to be closer to nature, to find a child-friendly area to raise a family, or to buy a larger house at a more affordable price.
“The average person wanted a home office, so they wanted a bigger house,” Sepanta says.
But Sepanta argues that the success of remote work depends on employees making healthy lifestyle choices.
“As long as you make a conscious decision, you can become a healthy and sustainable remote worker,” he says.
For example, the majority of interviewees who moved to homes near nature became more physically active, not less, because of the proximity to hiking trails. However, some people have become less physically active and more confined to their homes.
“It's very personal,” Sepanta says.
More likely to experience “home fever”
There was a similar trend regarding social interactions. Some interviewees maintained a healthy social life, spending time with family, friends, and acquaintances through recreational activities and not relying on professional interactions.
But without a water cooler to gather around, it's easy to become more isolated. In such cases, workers could begin to experience what Sepanta calls “home fever.”
“It's a sudden urge that most people experience when they feel restless or irritable, or want to go outside and get some fresh air,” he says. “From what we've seen, cabin fever[in remote workers]can be easily prevented and productivity can be ensured.”
At Sepanta, we encourage you to take regular walks and breaks throughout the day, just as you would in a normal office environment. He says you can keep these symptoms at bay by simply going out for a coffee or stepping outside and away from your screens.
However, social interactions can be difficult.
Sepanta found that the impact of telework on social needs varies from case to case. Some interviewees were introverts, while others were extroverts. Some people have partners and children at home, while others are single.
Their level of social interaction also varied depending on how far they were away from friends after moving. If you had to get in a car to meet up, your sociability level could suffer.
“If you're a telecommuter, making a conscious decision means considering all those aspects before moving far away,” he said. “Social interaction can definitely help you avoid isolation and avoid experiencing home fever, but it's a case-by-case basis as to how much you want to work it out.”
