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Remote work is probably hurting your body and brain

fortune.com

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Re: Remote work is probably hurting your body and brain

#21

Post by tenpies »

silicaroach wrote: post #7

Valid points in the article but they boil down to: 1) WFH unexpectedly made for awkward at-home office arrangements (eg kitchen table) and meeting formats (eg. zoom) BUT over time people sorted these things out 2) WFH people worked much longer hours perhaps over compensating for not being in the office, and that takes its toll on health That's it. So really nothing to see hear _except_ that this is a subtle attack on…

It's not just a subtle attack, but there is a huge amount of money behind getting office workers back. There are so many businesses that depend on you driving several hours per day, parking, being rushed so you have to buy food (or even better - your business caters so the caterer has a fixed contract), buying office attire, keeping that office attire clean, outsourcing easy work because of time demands, buying prepared food or take out or delivery because you have no time . . .

I'm not sure how many people read Your Money or Your Life any more, but it really opens your eyes as to how expensive having a job is. One way or another, COVID really opened people's eyes to this whether they know it consciously or unconsciously.

Re: Remote work is probably hurting your body and brain

#22

Post by dixie_land »

azmodeus wrote: post #14
ajuc wrote: post #12

I feel much better since I started working remotely. I lost 35 kg, started walking about 8 km every day, i can switch my position in front of the computer (half the time i sit on a ball by my desktop, the other half i lie on my bed with laptop on it). So I don't have back pain anymore. Please don't make me waste 1 hour commuting every day and sit in 1 place for 8 hours ever again.

How did you get in the habit of walking 8km a day working remotely? I hope your example can motivate me

I walk my dogs while attending meetings. An 30 min meeting is easily a mile or more. They’re happy about it too.

Re: Remote work is probably hurting your body and brain

#23

Post by dsq »

tenpies wrote: post #21
silicaroach wrote: post #7

Valid points in the article but they boil down to: 1) WFH unexpectedly made for awkward at-home office arrangements (eg kitchen table) and meeting formats (eg. zoom) BUT over time people sorted these things out 2) WFH people worked much longer hours perhaps over compensating for not being in the office, and that takes its toll on health That's it. So really nothing to see hear _except_ that this is a subtle attack on…

It's not just a subtle attack, but there is a huge amount of money behind getting office workers back. There are so many businesses that depend on you driving several hours per day, parking, being rushed so you have to buy food (or even better - your business caters so the caterer has a fixed contract), buying office attire, keeping that office attire clean, outsourcing easy work because of time demands, buying prepa…

Not only are there businesses that want you to commute, they are sometimes owned by the same conglomerate or investment firms, such as real estate. gas stations and toll roads that are a common trifecta.

Re: Remote work is probably hurting your body and brain

#24

Post by dsq »

torginus wrote: post #19

What dreck. What was hurting my body and brain is the ~2 hours of commute I had to go through every day when I was working in the office. Nowadays I can spend the extra time working out or taking care of myself.

At home you can choose a truly ergonomic chair, and control temperature, noise, etc

Re: Remote work is probably hurting your body and brain

#25

Post by fbrncci »

WFH: I'm down 25kg, walking 6-10km every day before or after work and having an hour of muay Thai training every other day in between my mid day break. Standing desk, and my home office features a bike, elastic bands, kettle, mace, club bells, and pull up bars to help with mobility and general fitness... Often during long meetings.

I do work about 8-10 hours per day, but the extra hours that I now put in used to be hours that I commuted. I've always been fit and loved exercising, but in my thirties due to WFH, I'm fitter than any point in my twenties.

Re: Remote work is probably hurting your body and brain

#26

Post by SamvitJ »

"According to Krys Hines, a Washington, D.C.-based workplace wellness and ergonomics educator at KH Ergo and Wellness, the recent shift to remote work has aged our bodies by about 10 to 15 years."

Not surprising that a seller of ergonomics consulting services (https://www.khergowellness.com/) would make an unsubstantiated claim like that.

Re: Remote work is probably hurting your body and brain

#28

Post by tayo42 »

tenpies wrote: post #21
silicaroach wrote: post #7

Valid points in the article but they boil down to: 1) WFH unexpectedly made for awkward at-home office arrangements (eg kitchen table) and meeting formats (eg. zoom) BUT over time people sorted these things out 2) WFH people worked much longer hours perhaps over compensating for not being in the office, and that takes its toll on health That's it. So really nothing to see hear _except_ that this is a subtle attack on…

It's not just a subtle attack, but there is a huge amount of money behind getting office workers back. There are so many businesses that depend on you driving several hours per day, parking, being rushed so you have to buy food (or even better - your business caters so the caterer has a fixed contract), buying office attire, keeping that office attire clean, outsourcing easy work because of time demands, buying prepa…

Are workers not back now? Most people I know that don't work directly in software are back to some kind of hybrid or full time office work. Rush hour traffic is back. It feels like a minority of workers stayed full time remote. I get comments now about being so lucky to be remote full time

Re: Remote work is probably hurting your body and brain

#29

Post by dhunter_mn »

I'm a software engineer, recently started going back to the office, by choice. The two years of lockdown turned my pleasant home office from a place to relax and listen to music to a cage. Minnesota cabin fever, all year long.

Being stuck at home also negatively impacted many of my hobbies, so my mental health took a hit from that as well. I feel like I'm starting to crawl out of a hole.

I do think my employer could have been supportive of working from home, pre - covid, but no way. Too much freedom and autonomy for the worker bees.

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