Working from home and anxiety

[HoneyBee2206]

Hello,

Does anyone else feel that since working fully from home they have become more anxious? Working from home is so convenient and lots of benefits etc but I’ve been so anxious second guessing everything I’m doing. I’ve had one more job before this fully remote and I can’t help feeling my anxiety just keeps getting worse since I haven’t been working with a team in an office. I’ve been in my job for a year there is very little chit chat so it feels like constant work and I don’t know why I just keep feeling really anxious about things. I think because when you are office based you see people most days and can have quick conversations if you’re unsure about anything and get to know people. I can’t decide if this isn’t the right fit for me. Just interested to hear anyone else’s experiences if similar. Thank you for reading :)

WFH is bad for my anxiety and I never do it unless I have to eg a sick DC - I went into work most of the time even during the lockdowns (NHS so it was legal!). I need the structure of going to work and interacting with colleagues or I start getting avoidant, my anxiety rises, and things I can do get harder and my world becomes smaller.

But I'm lucky that it's completely my choice, I can work from home sometimes if I choose or I don't have to if I choose not to. That doesn't sound like your situation. And maybe you don't struggle with anxiety aside from when WFH (I have struggled with anxiety for many years) so it might not be relevant to you anyway. But short answer yes WFH increases my anxiety.

The CEO of JPMorgan didn’t talk about anxiety but did refer to much of what you are saying just the other week.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/jpmorgan-ceo-jamie-dimon-says-remote-work-doesnt-work-our-business.amp

Which is no help to you today, sorry.

Thank you for sharing that really helps. I think I’ve always been a slightly anxious person but it was never as much of a problem until I’ve started WFH. To the point I’ve gone to a doctor about it.

I suffer with anxiety and WFH doesn’t help in many ways. In many ways it does help, because it allows me to better manage my time and not constantly be rushing in traffic etc after DC drops, also means I don’t have the pressure of getting myself ready and allows me time to exercise each day. But I do also get lost in my head and worries without the distraction of others in the office.

I feel a lot less anxious since WFH and appreciate seeing my children more and being able to do the school run in the morning s which I wouldn’t be able to do if driving to the office.

I’m in an organisation where I’m mainly in the office but most people are at home. It’s definitely a thing that I notice in colleagues always WFH. I think perhaps because just the day to day slightly unexpected things can become more scary when only occasional? I hope you feel better soon OP.

Just wanted to add that I too feel more anxious WFH and find myself too easily distracted, less productive etc which then makes me worry more! I only do it on days when I need to do both drop off and pick up for the kids.

Yep I agree. I think it's because if you have a bad call or get a rude email you can't bat it off with a colleague. Everything seems more magnified wfh as you've not got others around you.

Both DH and I prefer a hybrid approach. We both currently go into the office twice a week (sometimes I go in more) and the face-to-face interaction makes a big difference. I hope that we're able to continue this, but we'll have to see what happens. Of course, everyone's different, but that's what works for us.

Is there any possibility of hybrid for you, OP, or does everyone wfh?

I’m not sure how helpful this thread is going to be!

We are all so different. I am ND and wfh has decreased my anxiety massively. I am so much happier and more confident.

That is irrelevant though isn’t it?

Is there a reason why you haven’t been searching for an office job?

I'm like you, OP. I find I enjoy my job much more when I'm in the office, and when I'm WFH I spiral. I know a lot of people who say they like WFH because it lets them just get their head down and work, but I find the opposite - being around people helps me focus. It's just what I am like. When I was a student I always used to take my reading to a café or the common room rather than do it in my bedroom or a deserted library. Now, I'm able to work from home 50% of the time but I choose to go into the office more often than that.

I was offered a brilliant job last year but turned it down partly because it would have been mainly remote, with a minimum office requirement of 2 days a month, and the office was a 90 minute commute away. My DH has a similar setup to that now, though and he loves it.

Everyone's different, but there's no shame at all and nothing unreasonable in preferring to work in an office or face to face environment.

WFH has been bad for my mental well-being in general, anxiety included. I have just left my fully remote job and start a hybrid role in a few weeks with 3 days in an office. My life will be more hassle but I hope it will address some of the other challenges I have faced in 3 years remote.

I had a breakdown due to feeling utterly trapped wfh.

I won’t ever do it again unless I have absolutely no choice.

YANBU! I find it harder to not stress over things on days in WFH. In the office I can have instant conversations and it's all so much easier than over a Teams call. It's all those small spontaneous talks that don't happen when WFH. They help!

Having said that when I was in five days a week I don't think that made me overall less anxious. It's just that the WFH days are more anxious than the office days. I'm two days a week in the office and I like that.

Enjoying the people acting like you are unreasonable just for asking!

Have you thought about going to a coworking space a day or two a week? It might normalise it for you.

I don't feel more anxious but we have a very good support system in place. If something happens and I need a debrief, I have three senior colleagues on hand who will make time to take a call. I have two office friends with whom we meet socially and just this morning we had a little catch up on WhatsApp before starting work, talking about recent trip and plans for the day. All our meetings have 20 min pre-flight slots booked in so we can meet for a virtual chin wag if we wanted to. And many people do. I also have monthly supervisions with my direct manager and quarterly team away days. I joined this team when we were already fully remote but I feel like I know my team well, have plenty of opportunities to catch up with them socially and made some new friends I hang out with outside of the office.