The downside of working from home

Work from home has been the ‘normal’ ever since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak last year. Furthermore, the respondents have reported a decrease in income and increase in mental health issues, possibly due to increased stress levels,” adds Latha. Kiran Kalakuntla, Founder & CEO, ekincare, a Hyderabad based health benefits start-up also informs us that the lack of social communication, coupled with constant information overload about COVID cases, has led to several cases of increased stress, chronic fatigue, health issues and a general decline in the quality of life for employees across industries. “With the outbreak of the pandemic, our Employee Assistance Programs / mental health sessions for employees have seen a tremendous increase in usage across industries.” Sreeja De Behll, Senior Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Psychotherapist, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Nehru Enclave, New Delhi, reminds us how the ongoing pandemic situation has also been preventing people from catching up with friends and families, with interactions only limited to phone or video calls. “It is important to ensure a minimum of 8 hours’ sleep for one to stay active, which will also work wonders on the skin.” The WFH culture has drastically increased sedentary behaviours, given that physical activity has reduced due to lack of commute and fear of attracting diseases.