Does working from home affect Mental Health?

As an Office chair specialists, we have noticed a large change in the way our customer are purchasing their office chairs, with many now working from home. With the second national lockdown upon us, we have been researching the effects working from home has had on our customers and small ways to look after your mental health whilst working from home.

How have we collected Our Data

To collect our Data we have conducted 2 google surveys, which randomly selected participants from the whole of the UK.

How does working from home affect mental health?

On a survey we conducted of 100 people who have begun working from home, the statistics show:

• 26% Of remote workers reported higher stress levels
• 1 third of those working from home and find it difficult to separate their work and home life
• 34% Of remote works state working from home has made them feel lonlier than expected
• 14% Of brits say working home has placed a strain on relationships in the household
• 2 in 5 Remote workers say they miss the social interaction of working in an office, with 10% asked stated working in an office is their only chance to socialise

What Factors contribute to stress when working from home?

Out of 500 people surveyed, over 30 of them said that working in an office space gave them an escape from home life. With over 80% of people stating that working from home had not improved their concentration. Home life can be the main contribution to stress when it comes to working from hom; Weather this be struggling to separate home and work life, distraction within the home such as children or pets or struggling to distance themselves from work when their shift had finished.

Does working from home impact everyone negatively?

No, not at all, 50% of remote workers have stated that working from home has omproved their work life balance, with a further 47% stating working from home has given flexibilty with their working hours. Some research indicates that people specifically look for jobs with flexibility to from home to reduce stress levels. Advantages commonly noted with working from home are:

• No commute to the office, usually more important to individuals who work in congested areas such as London.
• Flexible work hours – some individuals perform better first thing in the morning, or some in the afternoon. Working from home occasionally brings flexibility to the start and finish time of your working day.
• You can chose where you want to work – for some people a heavily used office with lots of noise can be distracting

How Can I improve my mental health whilst working from home?

6 Simple tricks to tackle working from home:

1. Set and stick to a routine
2. Make a dedicated workspace
3. Give yourself a break
4. Stay Connected
5. Set boundaries
6. Think long term

It is imperative to ensure you look after your mental health when working from home.

If you are struggling to come at the moment please seek help from loved ones or speak to your GP if is becoming too much for you.