Anxiety is a real thing, and unfortunately, our workplace and career choices can play a big role in measuring how much it affects us. A high-stress or physically-burdensome role might lead to higher feelings of recurring anxiety in employees. Similarly, hours of time spent commuting in heavy traffic and regular expectations to stay late in the office can also raise anxiety levels.
While remote work is of course no means a resolve for all types of anxiety, it can offer a lifestyle and professional change that helps lower anxiety for those feeling the pressures of in-office positions. So how exactly can it do this? We’ve got a few theories.
You Can Cut the Commute
It may seem like something quite simple and routine, but taking the time to commute through heavy traffic five days a week can quickly take a toll on the human psyche. After all, wouldn’t you rather wake up and enjoy some solitary meditation time or morning yoga to de stress yourself rather than hopping into a car where you have to weave in and out of traffic to get where you need to be?
Working remotely allows you more time before and after work to do the things you love (as opposed to sitting in a stopped traffic for half an hour). Use that time to start your day off right and wind it down when you’re through with working.
You Don’t Have to Deal with In-Office Drama
Drama: who needs it? Who wants it? As far as we’re concerned, nobody. In-office drama, whether it be social or professional, can be a huge source of anxiety for employees. With remote working, you have enough distance to separate yourself from all the usual antics that bring on unnecessary anxiety in an office environment.
Furthermore, when you work remotely, most, if not all, of your communication between employers and team members is documented via emails and chat boards, giving you a paper trail that you can refer to should any professional queries come your way.
You Can Work According to Your Own Accommodations
There’s a lot of control that’s available to you when you work remotely. Most certainly, you can choose to work from where you want. This means no more shuffling into crowded office spaces or desk areas that make you uncomfortable. Instead, up your comfort level (and lower your anxiety) by working from your own home (or wherever else you choose to work from). The point here is not that you have to work from any one place, but rather, that you can choose to work from wherever you’d like.
Similarly, many remote positions offer you freedom and flexibility when it comes to the hours you’ll work. Sleep and exercise are major factors when it comes to regulating and lowering your anxiety. If you have flexibility with the hours your work, it’s much easier to get in the exercise you want during the time of day you want. You can also take a nap and catch up on your sleep when you need to.
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This article was originally published on Remote.com