As Canada opened back up after the COVID-19 lockdowns, many businesses encouraged their employees to go back to the office. Yet, despite restrictions being lifted in Canada and world wide, teleworking as an everyday working arrangement has remained popular across different industries.
Different polls over the past three years show an increased interest in teleworking amongst Canadian employees. The polls indicated that many Canadians prefer teleworking and a few would consider changing careers to keep up their teleworking status.
The popularity of teleworking seems obvious enough. It provides more flexibility, reduces the necessity to commute and may improve productivityamongst other indirect advantages.
However, being confined to our homes for long periods without access to different activities can expose teleworkers to cabin fever, a scarcity of motivation and anxiety.
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Benefits and disadvantages of distant work
In a recently published studywe conducted extensive interviews with 14 teleworkers who moved throughout the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that distant working arrangements enabled some people to maneuver away from big cities and economic centres to buy homes in cheaper areas. In some cases, teleworkers were in a position to achieve higher living standards that were impossible without teleworking.
Another indirect impact of telework was the health advantages related to higher productivity and fewer commuting. Most of us have first-hand experience of exhaustion after long commutes within the morning and back from work within the afternoon. That fatigue can often leave us feeling spent. Not needing to commute means we will be more productive and attain more with our day.
There are other indirect advantages like having more time to cook meals at home, eating healthier, having increased financial flexibility and improved overall quality of life.
However, together with all these advantages, there are some downsides that folks should consider before signing up for distant work. If you intend to maneuver away from town to a cheaper area, our research shows you will likely grow to be automotive dependent.
Moving away may also mean leaving family and friends behind. That means you either have to travel farther to go to them, leading to higher travel costs, otherwise you is not going to see them as often as you’d like.
That may be high quality for some, but others might need a major degree of social interaction while working from home. Not with the ability to see family and friends as often will be isolating and detrimental to our well-being.
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Dealing with cabin fever
Teleworkers might experience reduced social interactions after some time or have reduced physical activity. Being at home for prolonged periods of time can leave some feeling like they’re experiencing cabin fever. The symptoms of cabin fever include irritability, feelings of restlessness and loneliness.
Habits and behaviours might change over time after moving away or working fully remotely. Behavioural changes can encompass a broad spectrum, including but not limited to shifts in transportation mode, thermostat setpoints, physical activity and various other traits, all of which might significantly impact each the lives of teleworkers and the environment.
Some teleworkers find contentment in having more social interactions with their partners, children and family. Others might need a certain degree of social interaction with their co-workers within the office. And another individuals might need lively social interactions with their friends, members of the family, and colleagues.
Teleworking without social interaction or physical activity can result in cabin fever in the long term. Most of us who worked during lockdowns experienced the urge to depart the house even for a brief walk. Small actions equivalent to short walks, exercising and social interactions might help reduce cabin fever. Teleworkers should consistently pay attention to such impacts of teleworking that may impact their quality of life in the long term.
Whether moving away from town or staying downtown, working fully remotely can trigger cabin fever if teleworkers develop bad habits and behaviours. To avoid such problems in the long term, distant employees should consider how they’ll maintain social interactions, physical activity, and other wellness practices. Such activities can provide crucial breaks from the confines of their homes, helping to stop cabin fever and foster healthy teleworking habits and behaviours.
