In 2019, Forbes Magazine listed the Philippines as the 6th fastest growing freelancer economy in the world—even beating powerhouse India.

Call it “remote work,” “telework” or “work-from-home,” the trend has been growing by leaps and bounds even before the COVID pandemic hit. According to Global Workplace Analytics, remote work arrangements have already been growing 173% since 2005.

Back in 2016, Gallup reported that 35% of the workforce would readily change jobs for the opportunity to do work-from-home full time.

When the pandemic hit, businesses and organizations were all the more compelled to try work-from-home as a business continuity strategy. 

(Apparently, CEOs are liking it. According to a joint survey of 161 CEOs by the Management Association of the Philippines and PwC, 73% of respondents see a continuation of WFH policies even after the coronavirus pandemic.)

This is in no small part due to the well-known benefits of remote work.   

Benefits Of WFH

No more long commutes

The country’s major cities are notorious for their punishing traffic. Metro Manila, in fact, is considered 2nd worst in the world when it comes to commutes.

With remote work, an employee can skip the pollution and gridlock, and go from the kitchen straight to the workplace.

Flexibility

In a WFH arrangement, the employee can choose when he starts working. As long as he’s able to stick to agreed-upon deadlines and deliverables, he can design a work routine or schedule that best suit his lifestyle.

Such flexibility is one of the biggest draws for a work-from-home job. The thought of working from the house brings sparkle to the eyes of employees—increasing job satisfaction and reducing turnover rate.

Increased Productivity

Because the employees work during times they feel most competent and productive, performance and productivity increase proportionally. And with the saved time away from traffic, workers have more opportunity for that elusive “work-life balance.” They can spend time with family, engage in a hobby—and return to work refreshed and full of new ideas.

The autonomy enjoyed by the employee ultimately redounds to the benefit of the business or organization.

 Reduced Business Expense

Not only is higher profitability driven by better performance. It’s also drawn from the significant savings on office space rent, utilities, and all other costs of maintaining an office. According to Forbes, even part-time work-from-home employees save the company $11,000 a year.

But all that said, working from home does have its share of disadvantages.  

Pitfalls of WFH

Disturbance and Distraction

As more and more people are working from home, it’s becoming clear that the typical Filipino house is often not sufficiently fitted for the professional demands of WFH.

For one, houses are built practically next to each other so noise from one domicile can easily cross to the neighbor’s, which is only a wall away.

A potent source of distraction is the lack of sufficient space or room where a teleworker can quietly work, undisturbed, and free from the stress of babies crying or TVs blaring. For example, a routine Zoom meeting can suddenly become a challenge on one’s professionalism when, at any moment, somebody carrying a pile of dishes might pass behind you.  

Remote workers in other countries usually have a “home office” where they can hole up and do productive labor.

Internet Connectivity

Not that this does not happen in an office set-up, but WFH folks are finding that their internet connections have much to be desired. An eager worker often finds his day hampered by slow internet speeds, or worse, the actual loss of connectivity.

Employees might be living in remote geographies or locations with low, slow, or non-existent broadband connections.

If internet speed is a race among countries, the Philippines will place 107th in a pool of 176. This is according to OOKLA’s Speedtest Global Index-- a leading yardstick for connectivity.

We might say that internet speed is inversely proportional to stress. The slower the internet connection, the greater the stress for the Filipino worker. 

Lack of Engagement and Socialization

An office provides camaraderie, mentorship, and personal connections that a Zoom call might not sufficiently make up for. Businesses and organizations critical of WFH always point to the resulting isolation and lack of social engagement one experiences. When a person unplugs from the office, he may also be distancing himself from friends and colleagues. 

As social creatures, our well-being suffers from a lack of opportunities for meaningful social interactions.

Decreased Productivity

The work disturbance and distraction, the issues with connectivity, and the lack of meaningful social engagement have all seen the productivity of WFH folks suffer.

Skipping on the daily commute and empty office chitchat seemed like a good way to save precious time. But in a 3-volume European study of remote workers, it was learned that although more time is spent in front of the computer, productivity (measured as output per hour), still declined.

It would then seem that workers spend more time staring at the screen than actually doing productive work.  

Another reason is that WFH makes collaboration that much harder—especially for those not accustomed to virtual meetings and conference calls.

 Stress Is Stress

Regardless of where it is experienced, whether at the office or in a cramped room shared with members of your family, stress is stress—pure and simple.

On the surface, working-from-home looked like the long-awaited solution to work-life balance, but as we get more data and insights into these types of arrangements, we are learning that stress still significantly figures into the equation. Albeit, in different forms.

We might be trading one source of stress for another. Though long-commutes may have been a thing of the past, this has been replaced by the incessant noise of arguing nephews and the neighbor’s caged rooster.

You might have won work flexibility, choosing when and where to work, but that can also mean you’re “on-call” 24/7. One of the virtues of having an office is you know when the workday ends. Working from home means you are basically living in your “office.” It becomes harder to disconnect from work.

In a 2017 study conducted by the United Nations, many remote workers are actually finding themselves more stressed when working at home.      

The previously mentioned isolation can have adverse effects on the well-being of workers. Being away from colleagues and people who can give you emotional support can compound stress. It’s really no wonder that the same study also reported burnout among those who work remotely.

That said, here are some practical strategies to help workers keep their edge while working at home.

Wellness Tips For The Work-From-Home Professional

1) Structure your day

Flexibility is one of the benefits of a WFH arrangement. But too much of it could mean you’re starting to work later and later, doing mundane stuff that has nothing to do with your professional function.

Having a schedule means you don’t have to decide on all the little things every day. Use the flexibility afforded by remote work to pick a momentum-inducing routine.     

One of the advantages of going to the office is that you know when to do things. Keep a healthy balance between flexibility and structure and you will flourish in any work environment.

2) Set boundaries

Working just a few meters from your bed tends to blur the lines between the professional and personal. You need to set boundaries, for yourself and for others. This could be difficult, especially for your family who never see you in a professional setting, but there’s simply no way around it.

Setting boundaries refers to both time and space. As mentioned, you need to have a specified time for working. You also need a dedicated workspace where you can focus in peace. Finding such region in your home is really easier said than done because, as mentioned, the Filipino house is not originally constructed for this purpose.

Setting boundaries requires communicating to your kids and spouse—in word and deed—that you have a specific time and space to do your job. The advantage of having a schedule or routine is that other people begin to see that you mean business and respond accordingly.

Setting boundaries is not just about closing doors or saying “No.” It is also setting boundaries for yourself, which could mean turning off your devices or banning them from your work area.

As for the noise--short of soundproofing a room, you can place thick curtains on windows, doors, and walls to add a noise-reducing layer to your workspace.

Or, instead of noise reduction, you can tackle the problem from another angle and pipe in music or sound that actually help you focus (eg. white noise, relaxing sounds of nature, and classical music).

Whatever the case, set boundaries, and respect them.

3) Dress for success

One of the first things that go in a WFH set up is the office attire. The coat and tie that speak of professionalism give way to the shirt and pajamas...of the night before.

It’s part of the “flexibility” afforded by WFH. Since you’re not presenting yourself professionally to others (except at Zoom meetings), there’s little motivation to be at your sartorial best.

Soon, personal hygiene follows and you’re really starting to let yourself go.

Seeing that person staring back at you in the mirror will not win points for your self-esteem and self-confidence. So instead of completely shedding your professional garments, do this: Dress semi-professionally.

Take off your pajamas. Take the time to prepare yourself before turning on that laptop. Eat a healthy breakfast. Take a bath, and put on fresh clean clothes. Invest enough time in the process.

Clothes signal purpose. Make sure that the person looking back at you in the mirror looks ready to tackle the day ahead.

Again, take a bath every day. A cold shower helps get those creative juices flowing.

4) Socialize

You can take steps to counter feelings of isolation.

Actively reach out. And not just to people at work, get together with friends and family. Neighbors too. Don’t be a shut-in.

In this time of COVID, getting a face-to-face might be a little complicated, so you might have to get by with a virtual catch-up. But think about this, everybody feels isolated and anxious right now. Other people need you just as much as you need them. Your Zoom call could be the one that brightens their day.

People have set virtual dates, reunions, get-togethers, and Martini Fridays. Stress tends to dissipate after a few minutes of shared laughter with friends. It puts things in perspective.

5) Don’t forget the breaks

In piano, the pauses and the rests are as important as those times when you’re pressing on the keys. At work, breaks are as important.

Continuing to work even after you’re barely functioning is not a virtue. It’s really not. You’re prone to errors and mistakes in those moments and your work quality declines sharply.

After working on a task for a few hours, you reach a point of diminishing returns. You may still be sitting in front of the computer, but you’re not really getting things done. Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you’re productive.

Better to take a breather and allow yourself to reset. Take the time to play with your kids, watch a funny movie with your wife, or continue with that art project you’ve begun. Sing...quietly. Do anything that takes your mind off the job.

De-stress multiple times during the day and you won’t “burnout.”   

6) Exercise

Most remote jobs require long hours of sitting which is not good for general health.

Another way to beat that work stress is by working up a sweat. It gets oxygen to the brain and blood to the different tissues and organs of the body.

Keep your body moving any chance you get. You can jog or bike around the neighborhood and get some air.

“Exercising” doesn’t just mean push-ups and jumping jacks. Any activity that encourages you to move and get busy is good for physical and mental conditioning. Tend to your garden, for example. Or work on your car, and let the grease monkey in you have a great time.   

7) Do household chores

Speaking of which, another way of working up a sweat is doing the household chores. Besides getting much-needed oxygen to brain cells, keeping up with tasks around the house is a big secret in staying sane while working from home.

Keep your work area clean. Your immediate environment has a direct impact on your thinking and on the quality of your work. Seeing piles of dirty dishes and laundry somehow clouds your thinking and negatively impacts your job.

Invest a little time in keeping your room and the house in general in order. Keep your papers, your pens, and the rest of your tools in their places.

Instead of waiting for the weekend for an extended clean-up session, tidy up in short bursts every day,. This routine really just takes a few minutes, and you allow yourself a neat environment conducive to high productivity!

 With these tips, the Filipino WFH peeps can continue to be a force to be reckoned with. 

Bloodworks Lab wishes all Filipino remote workers the best of health. We are your partner in reaching your professional goals.

Bloodworks is your one-stop-shop for all your blood test needs. We offer services like the “Pre-employment Package” and “Well-being Package” which give clients an accurate picture of the state of their health.

In addition, we’re also proud to be the first laboratory in the Philippines to offer the Anti Acetylcholine Receptor (lgG) Antibody Test and the Anti N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (Anti NMDA Receptor) Antibody Test.

Our branches are in Alabang, Katipunan, and Cebu.