{"id":19981,"date":"2022-11-16T14:03:11","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T19:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=19981"},"modified":"2026-08-14T12:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T17:24:13","slug":"the-surprising-health-risks-of-working-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/the-surprising-health-risks-of-working-from-home\/","title":{"rendered":"The Surprising Health Risks of Working from Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since the Covid-19 pandemic made <\/span>working from home the rule<\/span><\/a>, rather than the exception, much has been said about the benefits of remote work. It allows for flexibility, gives people more time with family and eliminates commuting hours. But while remote work certainly comes with benefits, it also <\/span>has its own unique downsides<\/span><\/a> that employees should be aware of.<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to reap all the benefits of working remotely without harming your health, it\u2019s important to learn how to mitigate the risks. Doing so will help you stay safe, happy, and healthy \u2014 all from the comfort of your own home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Boredom<\/h3>\n

While some people feel relieved to be rid of office small talk, others may struggle with the lack of social interaction. When it\u2019s just you and your laptop all day, it\u2019s easy to feel bored by the monotony of it all. To reduce boredom while working from home, it\u2019s helpful to proactively plan out your day so that it includes different types of tasks, as well as regular video calls with your coworkers. A 30-minute Zoom with your colleague might be just what you need to get through the 2 p.m. slump.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Burnout<\/h3>\n

When your office is just steps from your bedroom, kitchen and all the other elements of your non-work life, boundaries get blurred. Because of this, many people have struggled with work-life balance during the pandemic, resulting in <\/span>high rates of burnout.<\/span><\/a> Burnout, which <\/span>results from chronic workplace stress that hasn\u2019t been properly managed<\/span><\/a>, is characterized by exhaustion, disengagement with one\u2019s job and reduced efficacy at work. <\/span><\/p>\n

To combat burnout, experts recommend taking steps to establish boundaries and protect your life outside of work, like removing your work email from your phone, silencing work notifications and taking a real lunch break.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Musculoskeletal Pain<\/h3>\n

While offices are, at least in theory, designed for people to work all day, your home probably is not. When the pandemic began, many people set up makeshift offices \u2014 using kitchen chairs as desk chairs, working from the couch, etc. <\/span><\/p>\n

These setups often <\/span>aren\u2019t conducive to good posture<\/a>. R<\/span>emote work has been associated with <\/span>musculoskeletal problems<\/span><\/a> like neck pain, shoulder pain, wrist pain and more. To make sure you don’t suffer from these issues, it might be a good idea to take short breaks to stretch during the day and invest in an ergonomic chair.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Isolation<\/h3>\n

Not only does remote work mean less interaction with coworkers, the accompanying blurring of work-life boundaries can also lead some people to become more isolated from friends and family. <\/span><\/p>\n

This has serious implications for your health, as <\/span>social isolation is associated with<\/span><\/a> heart disease, stroke, poor immune response, and even dementia, among other issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lack of Exercise<\/h3>\n

Before the pandemic, there were already concerns about Americans spending too much time sitting, and the shift to remote work <\/span>has only exacerbated that .<\/span><\/a>\u00a0This matters, as a sedentary lifestyle <\/span>increases all causes of mortality.<\/span><\/a> It raises your risk of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, depression and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Poor Air Quality<\/h3>\n

For many workers, working from home means less time outdoors, which means they\u2019re potentially exposed to poor indoor air quality during most of their hours. Harsh cleaning products, gas stoves and harsh cleaning products can all contribute to <\/span>poor indoor air quality. <\/span><\/a>Poor indoor air quality can cause health issues like respiratory problems, or eye and nose irritation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Eye Strain<\/h3>\n

Working from home involves\u00a0 a <\/span>lot <\/span><\/i>of screen time, <\/span>which <\/span>is associated with a high risk of eye strain<\/span><\/a>. Without built-in visual breaks, more people are experiencing eye strain, which presents with <\/span>a variety of different symptoms<\/span><\/a>, from watery or sore eyes, to double vision, head and neck pain and more. To keep your eyes safe, adjust your workstation so that you\u2019re as far from the screen as possible.<\/span>\u00a0If <\/span>your eye symptoms persist<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s important to contact an <\/span>eye doctor<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Love it or hate it, working from home is here to stay. If your office has opted for a hybrid or a remote model, it\u2019s important to understand how your work setup might be negatively impacting you, and take steps to protect your physical and mental health. Doing so will not only make you a better and more productive worker, it will also keep you safe and sane in the rest of your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n