A new study shows remote work allows people to eat more healthily, feel less stressed and have lower blood pressure.
This is according to a large-scale review of academic literature on post-pandemic workplaces.
The review, led by Charlotte Hall from the UKHSA, considered 1,930 academic papers on remote and other types of hybrid work.
The review identified three themes – the working environment, the effect on workers’ lives, and the effect on their health.
The working environment depended on how much space there was at home and the available equipment.
People on higher incomes often enjoyed home working more.
Those with more responsibilities at home such as childcare or housework tended to be more stressed.
The myth is that remote workers are more likely to eat snacks, drink more, smoke more and put on weight.
But according to this study, the transition to remote work was linked “with an increase in intake of vegetables, fruit, dairy, snacks, and self-made meals.”
They found those that benefited the most in terms of healthier eating were younger workers and females.
Overall, people felt more productive and creative at home.
The cons? A lot of people worried about career prospects: “This feeling that if you’re not present in the office, you’re going to get overlooked.”
