PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Overcoming the Unexpected Consequence of Remote Work Nobody Mentions Donald Altman
Are you working at home more because of COVID-19 and the pandemic? Do you mostly interact with others remotely while working? If so, you may be experiencing a profound impact to your physical and emotional life produced by this drastic change in routines. Research shows that a reduction in our social networks—even those caused by working remotely because of COVID-19—can put you at risk for a health factor that not many people talk about. That health factor is loneliness.
According to research, feelings of isolation and loneliness may be at epidemic proportions. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Cigna conducted a survey of more than 20,000 U.S. adults to explore levels of loneliness. The results showed over 50% of adults over 18 year of age were lonely. These persons spent very little quality time engaged in actual face-to-face conversation with another person on a daily basis. On the other hand, persons who engaged in an in-person interaction with another person on a daily basis were significantly more happy—as well as reporting themselves as being healthier. Keep in mind that social isolation is not the only cause of loneliness. It’s also been shown that overworking and burnout can produce feelings of loneliness. First of all, if you’ve been feeling lonely or depressed because of isolation recognize that you are experiencing a normal reaction to a difficult situation. Don’t blame yourself for your feelings. These feelings only mean that your emotional systems are operating as they are supposed to. They are letting you know that you need to find greater balance in your life. Fortunately, there are some good strategies you can employ for countering the effects of loneliness and overwork. Let’s look at how you can use a variety of proven strategies for regaining balance and connection with others. Studies on loneliness show that one key way of positively shifting loneliness is through bringing life balance into focus. This means paying attention to behaviors and life such as getting enough sleep, physical activity, and connections with others. Let’s take a closer look at things you can easily do to short circuit loneliness and increase your energy and wellbeing.
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The Washington CPA Summer 2020
www.wscpa.org
