I read a book years ago in which Bill Gates called cubicles dehumanizing.
They eliminate your privacy and put you “on display”.
It’s hard to move around when you are stuck in a cubicle. You can’t get up and pace around (like in an office) if you are brainstorming.
The average office worker spends 5 hours and 41 minutes at his or her desk each day,
The health benefits from breaking up prolonged periods of sitting at a cubicle include decreased risk of heart disease and cancer, better immunity, and weight loss. And studies show that a light stroll can buoy people’s moods and ability to handle work stress.
Remote work is better
Your job situation won’t necessarily fix all your problems, but research shows that remote work really can improve your quality of life.
Just how big of a difference can remote work make?
45% of remote workers are getting more sleep.
35% are getting more physical exercise.
42% are eating healthier.
51% spend more time with their significant other.
44% have a more positive attitude.
53% report reduced stress.
You feel like you have no control—but you crave it.
Greater control ups your well-being. Traditional office jobs don’t always give you the freedom you need to feel like you’re in control of your schedule and your life.
A workplace study by Staples found that “63 percent of the happiest employees say they can telecommute, work flextime, or both. This compared to only 22 percent of the least happy workers.”
What may be responsible for this finding?
Control over when and where you work contributes to a better professional-personal balance. An organized telecommuter can schedule that yoga Zoom class while still fulfilling obligations to an employer, leading to overall satisfaction.
Your productivity is lagging.
Productivity can soar when you’re in an environment in which you’re comfortable.
In that same vein, increasing the ability to manage one’s schedule and surroundings can promote better results. Night owls can perform during their peak time rather than go against natural tendencies, while early birds may love getting things done in tranquility before the rest of the world rises.
And while cubicle dwellers may feel at the mercy of chatty colleagues or a boss dropping by “just for a minute,” disciplined remote workers feel better able to limit, prevent, and work around interruptions.
In a survey half of remote workers said that telecommuting allowed them to accomplish more in either less or the same amount of time.
Again, there are a lot of things that contribute to a company’s financial health—but when it has employees sitting in “cube jobs” all day, with no flexibility, feeling unhappy with their life and/or career, it can impact the company’s bottom line.
Perhaps the greatest sign that working in a cubicle shouldn’t be a way of life is that flexible arrangements pay off for employers, too.
A recent study by the telecommunications company Vodafone concluded:
58 percent of U.S. companies saw increased profits after implementing flexible working.
86 percent of U.S. companies that implemented flexible working have seen an increase in employee productivity.
Teamwork has improved in 61 percent of U.S. organizations utilizing flexible working.
Staff morale increased in 77 percent of organizations that introduced flexible working policies.
If you are unable to swing a remote working arrangement the Paidletter.Com Fortune Training Course you can add an income stream until you can leave work altogether:
Get your Free week of the single operated newsletter that our clients pay to read.