iPhone photo capturing my go-to drink—a matcha latte with oat milk and honey— while working at my favorite coffee shop in Sierra Madre.
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, New International Version
The benefits of remote and hybrid work are wonderful! Less commuting, money saved on gas, more time with family, and flexibility to travel and work from other states. I am so thankful that my company has allowed me to work primarily from home since the pandemic.
However, despite the many benefits of working from home, I have also experienced some drawbacks. If I go too many days working alone from my home office, I can find myself feeling lonelier, more anxious, and more susceptible to the lies and temptations of the enemy.
Research shows I am not alone in feeling this way. This article from buffer.com says, “Microsoft’s 2022 New Future Work Report found some remote workers felt, ‘socially isolated, guilty, and trying to overcompensate.’ Another 2023 study by Integrated Benefits Institute also concluded remote and hybrid work is associated with an increased likelihood of anxiety and depression symptoms compared to in-person work,” (Bhatti, 2023).
This past fall, I began feeling particularly anxious working from home and it occurred to me that it was not good for me to be as isolated as I was. Though I went into the office once a week for a small team meeting and once a month for an all staff meeting, and met with coworkers virtually for a handful of Zoom meetings each week, I still felt eerily alone. Observing my husband, a full-time grad student who occasionally works from home but mainly studies at coffee shops, I found myself missing him and wishing I could work from a coffee shop too. Then I had a moment of revelation, and thought, “Why not join him?” So on a day where I was having a rough go of it, I told my husband I needed to be around people and that I was going to join him at the coffee shop he was going to that day. And, sure enough, setting up shop for a few hours in an atmosphere buzzing with people and amongst a community of others working on their laptops lifted my spirits and increased my focus. What a joy it was to be with other people, even if I didn't know their names. I have since joined my husband on many occasions for work at our favorite coffee shop.
I believe the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 can be applied to remote and hybrid work. Two are indeed better than one. Working from home has it's many benefits, but I think it's important to be intentional in combatting isolation by connecting with other people throughout our work days. This could be done through phone or video calls with coworkers, walking around the block and greeting neighbors along the way, or changing up one's work location for increased interaction with others. For me, adding some coffee shop visits to my work routine has been extremely beneficial mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, which has, in turn, lead to greater productivity in my work.
I believe we were made to work with and amongst others. As Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
iPhone photo highlighting a rustic light fixture from the same Sierra Madre coffee shop mentioned above.
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