Talking about the bad side effects of Remote Work in Las Palmas is quite complicated for me, but why do I need to write about it?
In the last few months, I have attended some conferences and events about remote work in Gran Canaria, and I have noticed that some people have started to talk, just a bit, about bad side problems or even more serious effects that some of them experience while working remotely.
I´ve read a lot about the benefits of remote work, but not too much about the complicated circumstances that could arise with “improper” remote work.
I did a search on Google about “Benefits of remote work” and I got 1.400.000.000 links and also asked for “Bad effects of remote work” and I got 488.000.000 links
Working remotely is a great advantage for many workers around the world. We can talk about flexibility, commuting, productivity, employee satisfaction, more time with family, and so on, the list could be overwhelming…
For many people who already have been working remotely for decades, it works, and it is growing exponentially.
Few bad side effects of remote work
It is clear that some people do not need human contact every day, or perhaps they think so. Some of us feel very comfortable alone in front of our computer, talking in Zoom or by phone when need it.
But for many others, social life, community, and human interaction are more than key to their existence. We are social human beings, we have lived in tribes, groups, and communities since the beginning of our existence. We have survived thanks to living in communities, it is in our DNA.
A few months ago I listened to a remote worker in a coworking space in Las Palmas talking about his experience when he decided to work remotely from his desk inside of his room at home.
After some months of working at home, he felt desperately alone, he said he needed to interact with people and talk with others, and he was quite clear about what happened to him “I fall into a deep depression”.
He slept and worked every day in the same room, asked for delivered food, not going out too much.
He was comfortable, and getting well paid, but something went wrong for him, he missed interaction, community, laughing…
A few weeks ago I bought a small book to read during my holidays, “The Monocle Campanion” Fifty Ideas for a Better World. In this book Christopher Cermak writes about belonging, he is a journalist and an experienced remote worker.
He says in the book “I had lost my sense of place. It didn´t happen suddenly but rather as the product of decades of life choices”
He also explains that “Research has found that the most common reason people give up the nomadic lifestyle and return home is loneliness: missing family and friends”
I know that being a remote worker and being a Nomad is not the same, but they both work from anywhere with an internet connection…
Looks like remote working is more complicated than could look at first instance, requires some research to face the new situation properly, self-discipline, motivation, goals, etc.… And apparently, it is not for everyone.
How to address remote work
I think this is something very complicated to answer, every new remote worker has to find their answers. But some experienced nomads and remote workers coincide in some common ground…
- Find a way to establish some kind of separation between work and personal life.
- Find a community of any kind, cooking, dancing, or whatever you like, but connect.
- Manage stress, by avoiding 24-hour connections, if you want to be productive in the long run.
- Address loneliness and Social connection through co-working spaces or other shared spaces.
- Be nice to yourself, as much as possible, go to dinner, go to the gym, for a walk, swim, be careful with your diet…
I mean the list is much bigger, but as I said you need to find what works for you. Working from an office and working remotely could be a huge challenge for our mental health. Take it seriously or you can find yourself in big trouble in the long run.
Remote work in Las Palmas
I remember a conversation I had with a remote worker before opening our space, I was trying to understand if our Coliving could be a good option for them, I asked questions about preferences and general characteristics of this group of workers, and she told me something very interesting, in her opinion “remote workers are looking for meaning”, and that could be in the center of avoiding all the bad side effects of remote work.
In EcoIsleta we think community is one of the biggest and most important solutions for many remote workers, and we have seen in our Coliving how they take advantage of a sharing environment.
Working remotely in Las Palmas could help you avoid some of the bad effects of this remote work revolution.
A few of them are
- Our amazing weather in winter, the sun have incredible effects on our mental health.
- A big community of remote workers, connected in a group of Slack, Live it up.
- Many coworking spaces
- A good variety of colivings, hostels, and shared flats
- Many different communities for sports, hiking, dance, cooking, yoga, etc
