I’ve been working from home since 2017. At this point, I couldn’t imagine returning to an office full-time.
Then COVID hit, and most of us needed to work from home (WFH). We seemed to enjoy that.
When the restrictions were lifted, CEOs started forcing their employees back to work. There was some evidence that WFH was better for everyone, but it was scarce.
Luckily, for the last four years, scientists studied working from home and recently shared their evidence. As it turns out, we do benefit.
Here are some reasons why.
More sleep = more rested
By not commuting, people saved approx 4.5h per week. This reduced fatigue, increased energy, and reduced anxiety.
More autonomy
Being able to decide when to take breaks allows the days to breathe a little more. New routines were formed, including time for deep focus. Constant snacking was raised as a concern, but this proved unfounded. Most people ate healthier.
Shift from hours to outcomes
Managers shifted from tracking their employees hours to measuring their outcomes. After all, your clients don’t really care how many hours something takes to complete. They care about using your deliverables to achieve their business goals.
The takeaway
Working policies should reflect the realities of our needs. The ability to work from home scientifically improves our lives.