Oct 29, 2024
Since 2020 and the surge of online businesses and platforms—including online therapy—more and more employees are working from home. Upwork, an online freelance platform, suggests that 22% of the American workforce will be working remotely by 2025. As of earlier this year, around 18% of all employed U.S. adults work remotely. From the outside, most people love working from home. Remote jobs are highly sought after, with many people saying they would take a pay cut if they could work remotely.
In many ways, working from home works well for the employers too. Studies have shown that working remotely increases productivity and employee happiness….unless one important factor is out of place: employee mental health.
Working remotely has mixed results for mental health. Some people say it has helped their mental health tremendously. Others say it has done more harm than good. Interestingly, this partially depends on the state you work from home. A new study ranked the states for the quality of their work-from-home positions, including the mental health of remote employees. Here’s what they found.
The Best States to Work From Home From
The survey was conducted by WalletHub and ranked states based on factors of work environment and living environment. The best remote working conditions were ones that included low costs (like electricity and good internet), reasonable comfort, a high level of job security, and a lack of distractions.
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The top 10 best states to work from home include:
- New Jersey
- Utah
- Delaware
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
- Connecticut
- Washington
- Pennsylvania
- Massachusetts
- North Carolina
These states had the best work environments for remote working and set up their employees for the best mental health.
It is also easy to access online therapy in those states, possibly contributing to the higher quality of work-from-home life.
How Working From Home Affects Mental Health
When it comes to mental health, people are divided. Some praise remote work for its flexibility in allowing employees to have better mental health. Others say it makes them more stressed out, anxious, and depressed.
Studies have shown that working from home can increase the risk of depression. Other studies have shown that remote work increases happiness. How remote work affects you is a matter of personal preference, type of job, and quality of your home workspace.
On the negative side, working from home can cause:
- Weak work-life balance: When you’re working from home, it’s very easy to bring work home with you. A few extra minutes in your home office can stretch into hours working late.
- Strained family relationships: It can be hard working and living in the same place as your closest family. You’re in a different mindset when you work, and that can strain familial relationships if they are in the house at the same time as your work.
- Disconnected from coworkers: One of the most positive aspects of working in an office is the office relationships. Work friends and acquaintances make up the social network that keeps us happy and healthy.
- Cabin fever: Not everyone is meant to stay in the same place every day. When Covid hit and people were forced to stay in their houses all day, we started to realize just how important novelty was to our mental health. Never leaving the house or changing out of your pajamas can get tiring really quickly, and leave you feeling lethargic, gross, and undermotivated.
On the flip side, working from home can increase happiness and decrease levels of anxiety and depression. The lack of commute, easy access to comforts, more freetime, and more control over your daily schedule is the perfect balm for many people’s work worries.
7 Tips to Maintain Good Mental Health While Working Remotely
If you work from home, you’ll want to take steps to ensure good mental health. These can include:
- Establish a Routine: Set a schedule that includes time for work, exercise, relaxation, and social connections. Keeping a regular routine helps you maintain structure and balance in your day.
- Create a Dedicated Workspace: Designate a specific area for work that's organized, comfortable, and conducive to productivity. This separation of work and home space can help reduce stress and improve focus.
- Take Breaks Regularly: Step away from your workspace and take breaks to rest your mind and replenish your energy. Even a short walk or deep breathing exercises can make a big difference in your mental health.
- Stay Connected with Others: Maintaining social connections, whether virtually or in person, can boost your mood and prevent feelings of loneliness. Reach out to friends, family, or colleagues for support.
- Practice Self-care: Engage in activities that promote relaxation and self-care, such as yoga, mindfulness, or taking a warm bath. Prioritizing self-care can help you feel more centered and lower stress levels.
- Limit Screen Time: Reduce overexposure to screens from work or social media to rest your eyes and mind. Engage in offline activities, such as reading, journaling, or hobbies, to help maintain work-life balance.
- Attend online therapy: Online therapy is a great way to manage your mental health while being undisruptive to your work day and home life. Online therapy cuts out the need for commuting and is often cheaper than in-person therapy. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or any other mental health disorder or you just want someone to talk to about the daily stressors in your life, online therapy can help.
Lifebulb Counseling and Therapy offers online therapy in New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, among other states. Reach out to our team to find an online therapist near you, or browse our list of online therapists yourself.
Remote work can be a great way to gain freedom and independence from work, but you have to watch out for your mental health. Establish healthy behaviors early on, and never be afraid to reach out for help when you need it.
