Working from home is becoming more common, especially since the COVID pandemic.
Even after the fog has cleared a bit, employees are still working from home. It has become their preference over going into the office to work.
They have become accustomed to the convenience of not having to leave their homes for work.
No extra time spent before and after work either getting ready or driving home in traffic. What’s even better is you can work while still being in your PJs!
Working from home is a benefit for most, as it provides more flexibility with your schedule, saves gas money, and for some, you can take your work with you on the road.
What are the Cons of Working from Home?
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side in this case.
Although it is very convenient to work from home, there is a struggle of social isolation that one might start to feel.
- Only being able to talk to your coworkers through your computer can start to make you feel alone. You aren’t surrounded by others in the office like before, which takes away that social in-person interaction with others.
- Yes, you can have video meetings every now and again, but it is not the same. Sometimes people may turn off their cameras in meetings, so you’re not able to see who you are talking to.
- This can make you feel even more disconnected from people.
- As humans, those social interactions and connections contribute to our well-being. It helps us to maintain positive moods, vent, laugh with each other, and conversate. Being in another person’s presence can go a long way.
- Another downside of working from home is that you may not get out as much as you used to. If you are a bit of a homebody, your work commute could have been your way of getting out of the house.
- Now that you work from home, you don’t really go out at all, unless you are running errands. You realize how refreshing your ride to work was now that you aren’t doing it anymore.
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1. Get outside on your lunch break and take a nice walk.
Being in the house all day can make you want to stay indoors day in and day out. Being outside switches up your scenery, rather than staring at the walls in your house all day.
Fresh air can also uplift your mood if you are feeling a bit wonky. Let the sun warm your skin while you listen to the noise around you.
You may also see other people during your walk, which can help you feel more connected with the rest of the world.
2. Make sure that you clock out right when your shift is over.
It is easy to just continue working because you are already home, and you feel like an extra 30 mins to an hour won’t hurt.
You have to separate your work hours from your personal life and cut work off when the time comes.
Be sure to spend your time after work doing things that you enjoy, and with those that you love. This will help with feeling like all that you do is work, work, and more work.
3. Get to know your coworkers.
Talk to them about things other than work whenever you guys have free time. You can ask them things like their favorite restaurants to go to or their favorite hangout spot.
Building those relationships with your coworkers might help you realize that you have more in common than you thought. Who knows, they might even become good friends that you can hang out with on a regular basis.
4. Get your body moving more.
As tempting as it is to be a couch potato when you get off, do the opposite. You don’t have to go to the gym if you are not a gym person, just do something to get your body moving.
Whether it’s taking a 5-minute stretch or trying out a new at-home workout, moving your body helps increase your energy and improve your mood. More energy and a better mood can definitely help you with feeling that social isolation.
5. Do something fun outside of your house at least one day out of the week.
Call up a few friends to check out a movie or that new art exhibit that you guys have been meaning to go to. Try to do something different each week to have something exciting to look forward to.
Being around friends and other people helps because you’re not alone and it feels good to connect with others. It can be refreshing as well to let loose and have fun in good company.
Working from home has its perks, but it also has its cons. Little interaction and communication with people in person can affect you negatively. This can make you feel alone.
You have to make a conscious effort to do things that you enjoy. Surround yourself with others outside of work so that you don’t feel socially isolated.
About The Author:
Charae Smith has always had a passion for writing, even as a young girl. She aims to use her writing as a tool to motivate and inspire others to be the best version of themselves. She is the owner of the blogging site https://penforthought.com/ where you can go to learn more about certain lifestyle topics. Whether it’s parenting, relationships, mental wellness, or fitness, there will always be ways to make life better!
