What if you’re told that work can be a support mechanism for your overall wellness and quality of life? It sounds too good to be true but remote work is proving to be just that. With the right approach and attitude, remote work can contribute significantly to wellness and quality of life. 

How does remote work tune up your wellness and quality of life meter? 
 

1. Cuts the stress and monotony of commuting to work. 

You may enjoy the workday commute to the office – you get to see the outdoors, talk to people, and get fresh air. However, the routine can be monotonous and the journey stressful, which leaves you wishing that you could jump  from your bed straight to your office in your PJs. 

With remote work, you can. 

And you don’t have to miss out on seeing the outdoors, talking to people, and getting fresh air. You can jog in your neighborhood, talk to your neighbors, and inhale the oxygenated air outside – before you log in to work. As a bonus, you exercised, enlightened your neighbors about the joys of remote work, and boosted your respiratory system! 

On average, Americans commute for 27 minutes each way. But according to a survey by Mental Health America, people who are looking for flexible options commute longer. While 73% said they have had round-trip commutes of an hour or more, 71% said they’d like to work from home to reduce commute-related stress. 

With work-from-home options, you needn’t worry about getting to work late or getting stressed due to long and slow-moving traffic jams. 

Hybrid work will work for you if you still would like to go to the office and not miss out on the flexibility that comes with remote work. 

Yes, you can have the best of both worlds! 

2. Empowers people from disadvantaged and disenfranchised areas. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, remote work gained huge traction so that businesses can continue operating. In less than three years, remote work proved its capacity to engage and integrate “the forgotten workforce” in a meaningful, tangible, and long-term way. 

At Genashtim’s inception in 2008, Founder and CEO Thomas Ng coined the term “the forgotten workforce” which refers to the untapped work potential in marginalized communities. As a 100% remote for-profit social enterprise, Genashtim employs people who are at a disadvantage when it comes to sustainable and gainful employment. The company’s groundbreaking remote work model is enabling people, who otherwise have limited employment opportunities, challenging work conditions, and difficulty in public mobility to work from the comfort and convenience of their homes.  

For many of Genashtim’s employees, it’s their first job. Being employed allows them to sustain their livelihoods and enjoy the finer things in life. By working from home, Genashtim’s PWD employees avoid the lack of PWD accommodation in infrastructures, ineffective and limited public transportation, and commuting hazards. 

It’s important to note that disabled workers have been requesting work-from-home for many years only to be told that it’s not possible. When the pandemic seriously threatened humanity and triggered global lockdowns, heaven and earth were moved to make work-from-home possible. 

Where there is a will, there is a way. 

A country’s economy will grow, and its citizens will prosper when its human capital comprises diverse people bound by employment inclusivity that includes: 

• Women 
• Retirees 
• LGBTQAI community 
• Refugees 
• Ex-convicts 
• Troubled youth 
• Homemakers 
• College students 
• People with disabilities (PWDs) 
• People with manageable medical conditions 
• People with mental and behavioral disorders 
• People from rural localities 
• People of color  
• People who are marginalized due to their ethnicity, religious beliefs, social status, and other differences 

Remote work is spearheading inclusivity by employing people who were thought to be unemployable or difficult to employ because they have special needs or those subjected to bias, stereotypes, and stigma. 

3. Allows more time for self-care and domestic maintenance. 

You can indulge in extended me time, home spa, and self-care sessions when you work from home and keep your home spick and span and be a Marie Kondo duplicate. 

You can put on a DIY nourishing face mask and work. Just be sure you don’t have a mud mask on your face when you attend virtual meetings with the camera on. With all the extra time you’ve got in between and after work, you can now practice the 10-step skincare routine. 

Keep it simple when it comes to creating your own spa at home. Hot towels, a salt body scrub, ice packs for your eyes, calming music, and aromatherapy essential oils will relax and rejuvenate your body and senses. 

You can also grow vegetables. You may start with microgreens and sprouts and move on to hydroponics for soilless gardening, then go for terrace or balcony gardening for space optimization. Not only do you get nutrient-dense vegetables to eat, but you also benefit from the therapeutic effects of gardening. 

Meditation and yoga are good ways to heal your mind, body, and soul. Dedicate 10 to 20 minutes daily to meditation and yoga to reach a healthy equilibrium of your body’s systems and functions. 

Keeping your home organized is easier when you work from home. You can clean up in batches or clear a mess immediately, so you don’t have a bulk of cleaning waiting for you.  

These are just some suggestions to utilize the time you have at hand due to the time-saving nature of remote work for greater wellness and a well-kept home. 

4. Allows you to pursue your hobbies and add more meaning to your life. 

You can integrate hobbies and other worthwhile activities into your daily remote work schedule because of the freedom remote work grants you. 

Remember the macrame project you kept on putting on hold because you couldn’t get time to do it? Or the book you wanted to finish reading since last year? You may have a blog you’d like to monetize but simply couldn’t spare time to learn the ropes because of your hectic work schedule. Or you may want to do volunteer work, engage in social activism, or foster dogs and cats. With remote work easing up your work routines, you can find more time to do these extras, incorporating more personal satisfaction into your life.  

5. Profits your relationships. 

Relationships require time and effort to work and flourish. Remote work optimizes work-life balance which provides more opportunities to develop deeper bonds with the people you care about. 

Since you needn’t commute or spend time working on-site, you’ll have more time to spend with your loved ones. You have more control of your schedules as a remote worker which you can use to create a greater equilibrium between work and personal commitments. Remote work also eliminates stressors that come from commuting and the 9-5 office presenteeism. So, you’re happier, less stressed, and more positive in your relationships. 

Remote work also benefits your professional relationship with colleagues since it’s easier to compartmentalize communication in a remote work setting and prevent communication leakage. You can message your colleagues privately or have one-on-one calls and keep things confidential – what you say to your colleague’s chat box or call stays between you two. You can do the same within teams or departments and get to know your co-workers better. This way, you build rapport, trust, and camaraderie in your remote workplace which is valuable for your interpersonal skills and company culture. This is also a good way to beat impostor syndrome in the remote workplace.  

Remember to maintain professionalism and only use parliamentary language! 

Remote workers also report that they are more satisfied with their jobs. Job fulfillment induces positivity that can be channeled into your relationships. 

Conclusion: Remote work allows an increased focus on health and wellness. 

As a professional, you dedicate a lot of time and energy to your work. With flexible work options, the landscape of work has evolved, which allows you to devote more time and effort to your health and wellness.  

Flexible work options facilitate the peaceful co-existence of work-life priorities as it breaks the constant tug-of-war between the typical 9-5 work hours and personal wellness and responsibilities. 

JEDI Jobs is an online remote job portal offering remote job vacancies from global employers focusing on job seekers from disadvantaged communities. Find your ideal remote job or launch your remote career by registering at JEDI Jobs here to enjoy full-time, sustainable employment with full benefits, opportunities for career growth, and the additional benefits of remote work.