Work and mental health are inextricably linked. The workplace can both worsen and initiate mental health problems, but it also has the potential to be a source of strength in times of need. A flexible schedule may do a lot for your mental health, both at the workplace and in your personal life.

In fact, 97% of individuals feel that having a rather more flexible job might have a “big” or “good” impact on their overall life. This is because flexible working arrangements (things like working remotely, flexible hours, and decreased scheduling) can have such an impact. Below, we discuss a study of data that includes the perspectives of more than 3,000 working professionals as their companies moved them from traditional office settings to virtual or hybrid arrangements.

Significance Of Work-Life Balance

The survey also indicated that work-life equilibrium and the stress of commuting are major motivators for seeking out flexible work arrangements. One-sixteenth of respondents (the fifth largest identifying category out of 17 options) identified as having a chronic mental or physical illness. Still another 10% said they were carers for someone with a health problem of their own.

Flexibility in the workplace can be a great boon to the mental health of those who need it most, including persons with mental health issues, their carers, and professionals in general.

Listed here are a few of the most intriguing and, maybe, unexpected ways in which having a flexible work schedule might improve mental health.

Reduction Of On-Site Pressure

The routine Americans go through merely to get to work every day can be taxing on mental health, even for those who enjoy their employment. It takes around half an hour for an average U.S. citizen to reach their workplace.

However, our poll found that those who are keen on part-time or telecommuting jobs have the most extended travel times: Seventy-three percent of respondents indicated they had spent an entire hour or more traveling to and from work. However, 71% of the population find it stressful to commute to workplaces and prefer working remotely.

Respondents also noted that working remotely would allow them to avoid workplace politics (65%), work in peace and quiet (60%), and in a more comfortable and personalized setting (46%).

Better Job Probabilities For Under-Privileged Sectors

Individuals living in rural, especially economically depressed places may miss out on a vital component of human life if they do not have the chance to participate in the labor force. The mental health of a person can suffer by witnessing an industry collapse or experiencing persistently high unemployment. Older persons in rural areas, whose lives have frequently been profoundly impacted by the economic downfall of their town, have some of the highest rates of sadness and anxiety.

When it involves getting people back to work after such a break, remote employment has a lot of promise. Especially when it comes to the invention of trading sites like the bitcoin loophole which allows traders sitting nearly at any corner of the world to trade and interact with international investors and turn their hundreds into thousands. In order to help people in rural areas locate remote work possibilities, FlexJobs has partnered with economic development agencies in states including Kentucky, Colorado, and Utah.

Prioritized Mental Health

Daily, professionals devote a lot of time, power, and attention to work. By providing flexible work options, organizations tell employees they can and should prioritize health and wellness. 77% of respondents felt flexible work alternatives would make them healthier.

Other considerations that make some people want variable employment are family and savings in time. Flexible employment alternatives allow family and work to coexist more smoothly.

Companies also profit from healthy personnel. The Mental Health America survey of 17,000 individuals found that unhealthy workplaces lead to more stress and poorer engagement, which severely affects workplace culture.

The Bottom Line

Companies that provide their employees with greater flexibility over and when, when, and how they operate by offering flexible working hours are not only boosting the health and well-being of their employees, but they are also improving the culture of the company and the amount of work that gets done.