The Health Benefits of Working from Home
Due to the global COVID-19 crisis, more and more companies are shifting to having their employees work from home—including us! We closed the home office for the health and safety of our staff and we are all working remotely, and we are fortunate to be able to do so. As it turns out, there are numerous health benefits to working from home—and not just because we are social distancing to help flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19. If you are new to working from home due to the current global situation, check out some of the potential health benefits you could be reaping while you stay at least six feet away from sneezing people.
• Stress reduction: “A 2011 study from Staples found that employees who worked from home experienced 25 percent less stress.”[1] The study did not clarify the exact reasons why employees experienced less stress, but in today’s high-octane world, who would not want less anxiety? In this instance, it feels like the “why” is less important than the end result.
• Better work-life balance: Working from home can give you more time and flexibility to prioritize what truly matters to you. When you work from home, you can set your schedule in a way that best benefits you and your life. Want to take ten minutes to play with your dog or read a book to your kid? Go for it! If you work better at night, you can do that, too! Additionally, if you work from home, your commute is as short as going from your bedroom to your home office/living room/kitchen. Or, if you work on a laptop, your commute could be as long as it takes you to lean over the side of your bed to pick up your computer. “In the U.S., the average, one-way commute time is 26.1 minutes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. If you commute to a full-time, 5-day-a-week job, roundtrip that adds up to 4.35 hours a week and over 200 hours (nearly nine days) per year.”[2] What would you do with an extra nine days?
• Healthier eating habits: When you work from home, it is much easier to stick to a regular, healthier diet. Without the siren call of the vending machines, you can actually stick to the healthy snacks you have stocked in your kitchen. You are also less likely to eat out at restaurants as often during the workweek, which can lead to better calorie management. Plus, with all that better work-life balance we discussed in the previous bullet point, you could take a fifteen minute yoga break in the middle of the day. If you try to do yoga in your office with all your co-workers, you might get a few funny stares (yoga instructors are exempted from this assertion).
• Increased productivity: Many employers worry that if the boss is not standing over their employees’ shoulders, productivity will decrease. In actuality, according to a 2019 Airtasker study, “telecommuters worked 1.4 more days every month, or 16.8 more days every year than people who worked in an office.”[3] Perhaps it is due to less stress overall, a better work-life balance, or a healthier lifestyle, but the end result seems to show that happier employees are ultimately more productive.
What are some of your favorite health benefits you have noticed from working from home? Tag us on social media @therealbodepro and let us know!
[1] White, Sarah. “Working from Home Can Benefit Employers as Much as Employees.” Monster Career Advice, www.monster.com/career-advice/article/the-benefits-of-working-from-home.
[2] Berger, Sarah. “These Are the States with the Longest and Shortest Commutes - How Does Yours Stack up?” CNBC, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2018, www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/study-states-with-the-longest-and-shortest-commutes.html.
[3] Caramela, Sammi. “Remote Workers Are More Productive.” Business News Daily, Businessnewsdaily.com, 12 Aug. 2019, www.businessnewsdaily.com/15259-working-from-home-more-productive.html.