With COVID-19 cases in decline, offices are slowly opening up and many are adopting a hybrid working model. However, many companies, mostly IT companies and startups, still allow their employees to choose 100% Work from home model. While working from home has its own set of benefits, saving travel time, avoiding exposure to pollutants and toxins, allows flexibility in routine and can improve productivity, experts say affects long-term mental health as the boundaries of home and work blur creating relationship problems, making the day more disorganized and isolating a person who does not have family and friends to keep them company during the day. (Also read: ‘Working from home’ hinders creativity and innovation, says study)
“With most offices now opening or adopting a hybrid model of working, it would be wise to remember the lessons we learned from the pandemic when most of us were working from home. While working from home has definite benefits, it’s also can be detrimental to us as it reduces the amount of daily social connections we make,” says Dr. Vinod Kumar, psychiatrist and head, Mpower – The Centre, Bengaluru.
The way we work in workplaces has changed dramatically with the start of the Covid-19 era. While the work-from-home model was introduced as a temporary measure, it continued for longer than expected thanks to consecutive waves of Covid, and soon people adapted to working in a digital environment without letting their productivity suffer.
“At first it was difficult for most to adjust to a work-from-home situation, however it grew for many as people got used to this way of life,” says Dr. Kumar.
With many offices still working from the model and people getting used to it too, we wonder how it is affecting our mental health.
Family life is affected
“During the first year of the lockdown, there was a sudden increase in reports of couples and families facing relationship problems, as most were not used to seeing so many family members for such long periods of time. Rates of Disagreements, disputes, and fights increased between family members. A work-from-home model may not be very conducive to healthy family life,” says Dr. Kumar.
blurring of boundaries
Dr. Kumar says that with the work-from-home model, it’s difficult for employees to create a suitable schedule that ensures a healthy work-life balance, and while many overwork, it’s also difficult for many workers. focus on work as a pressing household task. problems grab your attention.
“There is a clear blurring of the lines between work and home life,” says the expert.
affects social life
“The work-from-home model automatically reduces opportunities to socialize, which increases the feeling of isolation among employees. For many, there is no social connection beyond the home. This can definitely negatively affect mental health,” says Dr. Kumar.
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