Is Remote Working Good for Your Health?

Even before the global pandemic that is Covid-19 came in to our lives, the world of work was changing. It’s not too long ago that a mandatory requirement for many employees was their bum on a seat at a designated desk in a designated office between the hours of 9 to 5, Monday to Friday with very few exceptions.

The businesses that were still operating this way are suffering the most as we are all told to stay at home. Some roles of course will always be location specific however a benefit of this crisis is that many organisations are now discovering that they can continue to function as a business with a remote workforce.

The modern worker had already been demanding more flexibility in their work schedule. The old school model that insisted on 8 hours a day or more on site was struggling to compete with forward thinking businesses where the emphasis was on results, not physical presence at a desk and the number of hours worked. I predict a surge in businesses transitioning to results oriented work environments over the coming months as they adapt to the many challenges and embrace new ways of working. The future of work is upon us.

Remote Working

Research carried out by Deloitte in their Millennial Survey before the Covid-19 outbreak suggested that flexibility in the workplace was the main reason for choosing an employer. So even before the world changed, there was evidence suggesting that companies wishing to attract and retain talent needed to adopt a more flexible and remote working model. The work itself should adapt to the life of the employee and not the other way around.

So we’ve established that remote working makes good business sense and it’s certainly a more flexible option for employees. An important question though: “How does it rate from a health perspective?”

I believe there are 5 building blocks to a healthy and productive day at work, so let’s examine the role remote working plays in relation to each of these building blocks (N.B I am looking at this long term and not in a Covid-19 movement restricted world).

Building Block #1 Get Sleep

Workers who have control over their working hours enjoy better health because they are less stressed and get more rest, according to a review conducted by researchers at the Wolfson Research Institute based at Durham University.

Another well-known study looked deeper into the health impact of a flexible working environment by following 608 employees at the headquarters of Best Buy in the US before and after a flexible “Results Only Work Environment” policy was implemented. The research showed that, on average, employees got an additional hour of sleep per work night after flexible hours were introduced (plus they were more likely to exercise).

Verdict: Some positive evidence that remote working is good for your sleep patterns.

Building Block #2 Move More

This is an interesting one. Working from home or a local hub does not in itself generate more physical movement throughout the day. The motivation to move more and be more physically active still needs to come from the individual, regardless of where they are working from.

What remote working can provide is more time. The commute is reduced or eliminated and therefore that time can be used instead for more positive activities i.e. exercise.

Those working from home perhaps need to be even more aware of their sedentary behavior. They should stand up and take a break from their desk at least every 30 to 40 minutes, get outside for some fresh air where possible and take a proper lunch break. Colleagues and meetings often provide interruptions in the office that lead to movement. However, that is not the case at home, so it is important to be conscious of this and take regular breaks throughout the day.

Verdict: More time means more scope for physical activity. However, the onus is still on the individual to incorporate exercise and movement into their routine.

Building Block #3 Eat Well

Similar to the above, remote working doesn’t automatically lend itself to healthy eating. The individual still has to choose what to eat.

There are benefits though. Remote and flexible working can allow more time to make healthier choices. Often when we are busy and rushed it’s a lot easier to choose the quick and dirty option. Coffee shops, restaurants and convenience stores love to tease with the pastries and muffins within easy reach of the till.

If you’re working from home then you have access to your own fridge and cupboards, which are (hopefully) stocked with a balanced mix of nutritious foods. That little bit of extra time should allow you prepare some home cooked meals and healthy snacks throughout the day.

It’s great to see more and more healthy food options springing up, but it’s still hard to beat home cooked food. Plus you can save in your pocket as well by eating from home, so it’s win-win!

Verdict: Discipline is required to make healthy choices. However, the options for eating well are increased thanks to remote working.

Building Block #4 Stay Hydrated

This is a building block that is not impacted by your work location. Adults typically get about 20% of daily fluid intake from food (such as water rich vegetables and fruits). Therefore we should target roughly 70% of our daily fluid intake to come from water (that works out at a little over 2 litres for men and around 1.5 litres for women). The remaining 10% can be made up from other fluids taken in moderation such as coffee, teas, juices, milk, etc.

Staying hydrated, no matter where you are working from, will help you be more alert, focused and concentrated at your daily tasks.

Verdict: This building block doesn’t care about your work location!

Building Block #5 Stress Less

From hours of traffic jams to packed buses and trains, it’s no wonder commuting is one of the most stressful events in people’s lives.

Not only is stress not much fun, it’s also pretty bad for your health, so working from home or a hub can play a big part in reducing your overall stress levels simply by eliminating or reducing your daily commute.

Being in control of how you manage your time also reduces the need to cram in work between strict office hours, which only increases stress.

Let’s look at a few studies in this area:

A Canada Life survey of 1,000 adult employees in the UK found that only 17% of those who work from home are regularly affected by workplace stress compared to 37% of those working in cubicles and 32% of those who work in open plan offices. The report also found that 77% of employees felt flexible working promoted productivity.

In the same report nearly half (46%) of employees working from home said they were not anxious or stressed about work compared to less than a fifth (18%) of those who work in a cubicle and 27% who work in an open plan office.

Another study by US company Best Buy looked at employees that were given a greater capacity to organise their time versus those that were not. From a mental health standpoint, the study found that subjects reported they felt “greater mastery” of their time, had fewer work-life conflicts and, as a result, felt increased energy, less stress and a self-reported sense of well-being when they were given more freedom and autonomy in their working hours.

Verdict: There can be no argument that remote working plays a significant role in combating stress.

Conclusion

In my opinion the outcome is clear. Remote working provides the platform for a healthy lifestyle. Will you embrace it?

About the Author

Brian Crooke is a wellbeing educator, speaker and adviser supporting Irish organisations to promote and sustain wellbeing within their workplaces.

He is the founder of the Workplace Wellbeing Ireland community and is responsible for the design and delivery of the Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness at Tangent, Trinity College Dublin.

Brian is the host of The Work Well Podcast.

In his spare time Brian is bringing free resistance training to every county and community in Ireland through his parkHIIT project.