Nearly everyone had difficulties adjusting to the new arrangement during the early days of remote work and working from home. Eventually, they came to appreciate the improved work-life balance and other benefits it introduced into their hectic lives. From more free time to fewer expenses, the modern workforce grew accustomed to working from home to the point that surveys have shown the willingness of many to leave their current jobs should their employers no longer allow remote working in favour of a full return to office work.
With that said, working from home is far from perfect, as it also has shortcomings, one of which is work-from-home (WFH) fatigue. Since the shift to remote work two years ago, many employees are now starting to feel the toll of the arrangement. This is because working from home could worsen their work-life balance instead of improving it, as it can blur the line between their professional and private life. Office work, with its clear-cut daily routines and physical socialisation, are among its best advantages that prevent this. And while many employees can still go beyond their defined working hours in the office during certain periods, the physical distance between their home and the workplace sets a distinct boundary that separates their personal and work life.
To reach a compromise between employers wanting to return to office work and employees preferring flexible and remote working arrangements, the hybrid work model came to be. As it gradually gets adopted by more and more organisations, hybrid working is set to become the future of work that resolves the downsides of working from home and office work.
Hybrid working improves work-life balance
Despite having a dedicated home office, it may not suffice to fully shut out the distractions of your household and thus affecting productivity. Similarly, according to a Bloomberg report, these distractions may also come from work (such as messages from your team or superiors) and intrude on your off time, potentially resulting in longer working hours of up to three extra hours daily. As many are already aware, having defined boundaries, be they physical or mental, ensures your work is not never-ending. If sheer willpower is insufficient, hybrid working with its flexibility to work in the office or another remote location, such as a nearby coworking office space for rent, can provide an easy way to enforce such boundaries.
Hybrid working promotes employee well-being
Isolation and feeling disconnected from the company and your peers are among the biggest downsides of working exclusively from home, which can cause a dip in work performance. Hybrid working solves this by alternating schedules between office work and remote work so that employees can regularly meet up with their colleagues. Moreover, coworking spaces allow employees to work in a more office-like space among other professionals instead of staying cooped up at home. Even without interacting with anyone, being in the company of like-minded individuals doing their best is enough to motivate one to do the same and stave off those feelings of isolation.
Hybrid working encourages a healthier lifestyle
Hybrid working can help employees to schedule more time for exercise, in addition to allowing them to diversify their physical activities. On a WFH day, employees have the extra free time saved since there is no need for commuting. As such, they can engage in a good run or a few swimming laps prior to working. On the other hand, employees can easily make a pit stop at the gym or join in on a group exercise on days where they are working in the office.
Moreover, hybrid working allows employees to prepare healthier meals with the extra free time that they have. For instance, they can drop by the store to buy groceries and prepare healthy, home-cooked meals on WFH days. Additionally, they can meal-prep for the days working in the office – not only does it encourage a healthier lifestyle, employees also save money on lunch at the same time.
Conclusion
Despite its many advantages that have gained the favour of millions of employees worldwide, working from home has its downsides like WFH fatigue which may significantly affect the productivity of a percentage of the workforce. By switching to a hybrid work model that incorporates a more flexible working arrangement, employees can enjoy the best of both office and remote work and the improved work-life balance that comes with it.
If your organisation is looking to adopt coworking spaces for hybrid work, GreenHub Singapore has island-wide coverage that ensures all your employees get access to a coworking space wherever they live! Our productivity-focused and modern single office spaces for rent come with all the office supplies and amenities necessary to do work complemented by green design elements proven to promote employee well-being. To get started, don’t hesitate to contact us today.