Remote Work & Mental Health: Pros, Challenges, and Ideas to Try

Working from Home and Mental Health: A Few Thoughts to Start With

Remote work has a lot going for it. No commute, more autonomy, more control over the work environment — for many people, it’s been a real improvement in quality of life.

But spending all day in the same space, often alone, comes with its own challenges. It’s not just about productivity or performance — mental and physical wellbeing matter just as much. And what works in an office doesn’t always translate to a home setting.

Over the past few years of working remotely, I’ve tried different setups, habits, and routines. Some stuck, some didn’t. This isn’t a list of advice — just a few observations and ideas to try, depending on what kind of day you’re having.

The Positives Are Real

There’s something genuinely refreshing about being able to structure the day differently. The flexibility to start earlier or later, to take breaks that actually recharge, or even to walk the dog in the middle of the afternoon — those are things that were hard to come by in a traditional office.

The home environment can also be more personal, more comfortable, and in some cases, more efficient. Noise levels, lighting, temperature, and desk setup can all be adjusted to suit personal preference, which isn’t always possible in a shared workspace.

And then there’s the freedom to wear what’s comfortable, skip unnecessary meetings, and avoid the micro-distractions of open-plan offices. For some, that’s made room for deeper focus and more meaningful work.

But It’s Not Always Smooth

The flip side of that autonomy is that the lines between work and life can blur easily. Without a change of location or a set end time, it’s easy to let work bleed into the rest of the day — or night.

Social contact can also drop without even realizing it. It’s not just about missing coworkers — it’s about the lack of variety, small talk, spontaneous conversation, and shared moments that naturally punctuate an office day.

Even with pets, music, or podcasts filling the silence, the absence of human presence can, over time, feel isolating. And for some, the constant proximity to work makes it harder to switch off mentally, even when the laptop is closed.

A Few Things That Help (Sometimes)

Different approaches work for different people — and what works one month might not work the next. That said, a few things have made a consistent difference:

• Physical movement during the day — not necessarily workouts, but breaks that involve standing, walking, or changing environments

• Structured starts and ends — even simple rituals like stepping outside in the morning or shutting down all devices at a set time can help separate “work mode” from “home mode”

• Staying connected — short catchups, co-working calls, or simply checking in with someone without an agenda can help break the isolation

• Small changes in the setup — adding plants, adjusting lighting, decluttering — they don’t solve everything, but they can lift the mood

None of these are solutions in themselves, but they’re tools that can make a difference.

The Bigger Picture

Remote work is still evolving. For some, it’s a dream setup. For others, it’s complicated. Most days probably fall somewhere in between.

This site exists to explore that in full — not just the tech and tools, but the routines, challenges, wins, and workarounds that shape day-to-day life when home and office share the same walls.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here — just a space to share what’s worth trying, what didn’t quite work, and what might help someone else feel a little better about their own setup.