Surely I can't be alone on this. The narrative about working from home has largely been that everyone loves it. While some people love working in their pajamas with no one else around and are thrilled by the lack of commute, there are others of us feeling lonely, having trouble focusing, feeling less efficient, and feeling disconnected from colleagues.
While both viewpoints are legitimate, it is natural to wonder if working from home is exacerbating depression symptoms in employees across the world.
Although there are both pros and cons to working from home, a large body of research shows that telecommuting can lead to an excess in anxiety, exhaustion, depression,
strain, and stress. Researchers have found that women have a higher chance of depression than men while working from home.
For some people, the relationship between working from home and mental health is complex. Working from home can improve mental health, but for those of us who live with depression, working from home can intensify certain symptoms.
Other factors associated with a decline in both physical and mental well-being while working
from home include decreased physical activity, a non-nutritious diet, being a parent or caregiver to a toddler, having more distractions at home, and a lack of communication with
colleagues.
It is highly advisable if you are struggling working from home that you take the time to seek the support of a health professional.
You can also work on some coping strategies such as:
Practicing and prioritizing self care – take regular breaks, exercise, do your best to make nutritious meal choices
for well-balanced meals and snacks.
Maintain social connections by staying in touch with colleagues regularly to combat feelings of isolation.
Medication can also be a helpful alternative for some.
If working from home has become a challenge for you, just know that you are not alone.
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