The average commute time in the U.S. is almost 27 minutes each way. Good mental health has to be the top priority for staff when working from home during the COVID-19 lockdown, explains CartridgeSave MD, Ian Cowley. Research from King’s College London has suggested more than half of us have struggled with our sleep since lockdown began. Even if a person delights in their daily work tasks, the general process Americans go through just to get to and from work every day can take a toll on mental health. Working from home can have many benefits. The results of a new survey by Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity, have revealed that working from home may have significantly impacted out mental health. stigma of mental health in our society, and to shine a light on the positivity and support that “Poor quality sleep will make you feel more tired, stressed, less energised and more anxious as a result. We’re on a mission to create a healthier, happier, more sustainable society. When we originally published this toolkit, the first paragraph mentioned being past the peak of infection and looking ahead to coming out of lockdown in the near future. Working from home has plenty of benefits...but that doesn't automatically mean it's the best thing for your overall mental health and well-being. Fax (703) 684.5968. The fact that improved mental health has an overall higher response rate than declined mental health is an interesting insight into the benefits of working from home, especially when considered in combination with the previous responses. We all have mental health and some of us will experience mental illness – but that doesn’t I am, I have is a new podcast where we’ll be talking with great Stress related absence in particular has increased, with 37% of respondents to the CIPD and Simply Health Health and Well-being survey saying that stress-related absence had increased in the last year. Schedule your time. Unsplash/ThoughtCatalog. For people with mental health concerns, caregivers, and professionals at large, flexible work options can help support our efforts to improve the mental health of ourselves and those around us. But there’s not enough money to go around, not enough jobs to go around. As many of us are now working from home, we’ve got to navigate this new way of working together. The freedom that comes from working from home adds immeasurable value to your mental health. Scheduling some activity into your day will benefit your work-from-home experience. provide informative, inspiring and topical stories about mental health and wellbeing. Those living in rural or economically struggling areas may miss a key piece of the human experience: engaging in the workforce in a meaningful, long-term way. Working from home has its advantages, but significant disruption and change can take their toll on your mental health. Mental health and work are intertwined. “Rather than worrying about stepping away from the computer, take a proactive approach. The latest insights from Nuffield Health show that, whilst we are recognising many of the benefits of working from home, such as saving time and money thanks to the lack of commute, as well as more time to spend with our families, many feel that this prolonged period of working from home may be taking its toll on our mental wellbeing. Professionals put a huge amount of time, energy, and focus towards work every day. Get happiful magazine delivered straight to your inbox. In fact, the impact that work flexibility (things like remote work, flexible hours, and reduced schedules) can have is so great that 97% of people say that having a more flexible job would have a “huge” or “positive” impact on their quality of life. Every Mind Matters and One You can help with expert advice and practical tips. With Covid-19 leading to many being furloughed or losing their jobs entirely amidst a health crisis like we have never seen before, we have all had to make changes to our daily routines and lives. You can take breaks at any moment, feel no rush to hang up on your family members when they call, and eat lunch at any weird time you want. © Copyright 2021 Mental Health America, Inc. 2018 survey of over 3,000 professionals we conducted at FlexJobs, High rates of depression and anxiety are found in rural areas, FlexJobs is partnering with economic development organizations in Kentucky, Mental Health America study of 17,000 employees. Sixteen percent of the people who took the survey self-identified as living with a chronic physical or mental illness, the fifth-largest identity group out of 17 choices. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the classic benefits of telecommuting! The average commute time in the U.S. is almost 27 minutes each way. Therefore, we are committed to anti-racism in all that we do. I think we can all agree: 2020, as a whole, has been tough. And this isn’t just a benefit for employees--companies also benefit when their workers are healthier! One thing for sure is that in this time of uncertainty an anxiety, workplace mental health, now at home or the office, must be a priority for employers. The other top factors that make people want a flexible job, in addition to work-life balance and commute stress, were family and time savings. Eat breakfast. As exercise needs space, it requires you to step away from your computer, so you benefit from both the mental headspace as well the boost endorphins give to both physical and mental energy.”. Alexandria, VA. 22314 A further report on Coronavirus and anxiety in Great Britain released by the ONS suggested that whilst overall levels of anxiety have begun to lessen, pressures of homeschooling have lead to a further increase in stress and loneliness. 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