Entrepreneurs are currently navigating through times of ambiguity. They have employees, expenses, their businesses are being closed down, yet, still open. While some things continue as usual, others don't. COVID-19 has left us with a change - in other words, business as unusual. During the global pandemic, a great many people have made the switch to working remotely. Needless to say, workers and managers aren't happy about it. This transition worked well for a short amount of time, but it's not feasible in the long run. The problems of the past few months are taking a shocking toll on our health. 

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No matter how much we might like the flexible working hours, the lack of commuting, or the decrease in the number of distractions, we can't help but notice that our health is suffering. The point is that it may not be a positive move. Given that the COVID-19 outbreak is turning an ever-increasing number of people into remote workers, it's worth taking a closer look at this. What happens exactly when home becomes the workplace? 

The not-so-obvious drawbacks of remote working 

Remote working works best for us when it's by choice. We get the opportunity to slow down, spend more time with our loved ones, and maintain a better work-life balance. Unfortunately, working from home hasn't been an active choice but a reaction to the events that seem to be beyond our control. People have been asked to stay at home and the sudden increase in telework presents more problems than opportunities. In this article, we'll focus exclusively on the health issues. Remote work comes with several drawbacks, which are highlighted as follows: 

Backaches 

During the global pandemic, people have been working in conditions that don't qualify as ideal. Examples include using the laptop in bed and working hard on the couch. Not having a proper space ultimately leads to discomfort, pain, and injury, if we might add. Working on the laptop for hours at an end can lead to backaches due to the inconsistent desk setup. The physical strain can take a toll on the back. So, what can be done about it? One solution would be to spend lesser time awkwardly bent or twisted. 

Offices are typically furnished with ergonomic furniture. Residential homes that have enough space to accommodate a standing desk should do it. The improvements in lower back pain are almost immediately visible. The job is done standing as opposed to sitting in a chair. Speaking of which, the standing desk should be paired with a sit. The best standing desk chair will take off the pressure from the feet, joints, knees, and spine. Getting back on topic, weeks of poor ergonomic bring about visible effects. Sometimes, the effects of poor ergonomics can lead to a lifetime of pain. 

Insomnia

It seems that our responsibilities have multiplied following the coronavirus lockdown. We face a great deal of demands from work and family alike and, more often than not, tensions arise. It's difficult, if not impossible, to separate career from personal life. The mind refuses to take a break and, regrettably, it's not possible to take a walk and forget about it all. Members of the millennial generation, as well as highly-organized people succeed in effectively managing time and prioritizing tasks. Yet, this isn't the case for everyone. 

Remote working isn't suitable for all circumstances. Some people end up developing insomnia. They have trouble sleeping at night because of the work-home interference. Workers stare at screens all day long, so this doesn't really come as a surprise. It's recommended to turn off all devices before going to bed so that the body can make the transition to the sleep mode. Equally important is to avoid catching up on work late in the night. 

Stress and anxiety 

Working from home is supposed to reduce stress. It's no longer necessary to roll out of bed early in the morning and rush to get to the office on time. While some people may be relieved to not have to commute every day, others experience stress and anxiety. Domestic help isn't available, so they have no choice but to do the hard work themselves. This means taking care of grocery shopping and running around kids. The outcome is that they hardly have any personal time. 

Full-time at home doesn't need to be miserable. Adjusting the regular routine and coordinating schedules might be of help. In this respect, it's advised to have a weekly family meeting and revise each person's tasks and responsibilities. Health experts say that meditation, physical exercise, and eating a healthy diet can go a long way in terms of managing stress and anxiety. Anyway, we can't change this frustrating situation, but it's within our power to diffuse the stress and anxiety. 

There is light at the end of the tunnel 

Undoubtedly, remote working isn't the best solution, although it's a necessary response to the current situation about the COVID-19 infection. Many of us will work from home through the end of 2020. Others will be lucky enough to come back to the office in the weeks to come. Either way, teleworking won't stay forever. When the novel coronavirus starts to recede, life will get back to normal. It's too early to make predictions. We don't know what the world will look like. There are numerous possible futures and the outcome depends exclusively on how governments and society respond to the crisis. 

It's possible to mitigate the negative impacts of remote working, as demonstrated above. Nevertheless, not everyone will be okay with the idea of working at home in their pajamas and that is because they don't have the right personality type. The new way of working has gained in popularity, but let's not forget that it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. In this particular scenario, it's recommended to discover ways of coping and, simply put, make the best of the situation. It's the best that we can do. We understand that it's a drastic switch, but all we can do is accept the situation.