The Psychology of Environment: The Health Benefits of Working in a Home Office

28 June 2024

In today’s corporate world, things don’t actually feel quite as corporate as perhaps they once did. This is largely thanks to the increase in hybrid and remote working, which became the norm for many people following the coronavirus pandemic.

Many studies suggest that working from home even part-time has a positive effect on employee wellbeing, however as positive as remote working may be, it doesn’t come without its challenges.

One thing in particular that is important to consider is having a designated home working space. Read on to learn some of the mental and physical health benefits of working from a home office rather than in your bedroom.

3) Better Work-Life Balance

First and foremost, working from a home office rather than your bedroom is essential for providing you with a well-established work-life balance. Environmental psychology, which looks at the relationship between humans and their surroundings, tells us that how we spend time in certain environments can shape how we feel and behave in such spaces.

For example, your bedroom is not only a space for you to unwind, relax and decompress from the events of the day, but it should be associated with as such. However, if you work in your bedroom, then you’ll start to associate it with the stress of work, making it harder for you to wind down and relax when in this space.

By working in a home office, you keep any work-associated stress and thoughts in this room, allowing you to subconsciously still enjoy your bedroom as a place of comfort and relaxation and ultimately maintain a better work-life balance.

Similarly, this also helps improve your sleep, since you will find it easier to switch off at night without thinking about work. Getting a proper, full night’s sleep is incredibly important for your wider health.

2) Better Hygiene

Did you know that you shed hundreds of thousands of skin cells every night? When you’re lying in bed, these will stay trapped under your covers and attract dust mites. The bed is also a humid environment after spending a night under the covers, as your natural body oils and sweat will also be on the sheets, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

This is why it’s important to let your bed air for 30-60 minutes (at least) before making it, as making it straight away can trap any moisture, bacteria and dust mites under the covers. Similarly, so can staying in your bed; by working in a home office, you’re allowing your bed to air, so that it’s more hygienic for you to get back into at night, rather than laying in a bacteria-ridden environment all day.

3) Protected Posture

If you work in your bedroom, then you probably use the existing furniture you have in there, which is most likely your bed. Sitting on or laying in your bed for extended periods of time whilst trying to work at a laptop can be damaging to your posture, leaving you with numerous aches and pains.

By setting up a home office, you can create a space that uses designated home office furniture, which is designed to be ergonomic and protect your posture. By sitting at a proper desk with a proper office chair that provides lumbar support, you’ll find that your posture is much improved as is any associated pain.