Take our Ambition Test

Find a career counselor near me

All of the big and small social interactions of the office space play a huge role in maintaining motivation.

When your home becomes your office, the boundaries between “work time” and “free time” often collapse.

Remote work reduces distractions, but it also reduces inputs, which are fuel for creativity.

Remote work has successfully been marketed as the modern career jackpot, with its flexibility, comfort, pajamas-as-office-wear, and commute-free start to the workday. Many people romanticize it because the term “remote work” conjures images of relaxed mornings, hyper-focused deep work sessions, and perfect work-life harmony in their minds. But for a significant share of workers, the reality of remote work is far less idyllic.

If you love the concept of remote work but struggle to actually thrive in it, here are four research-backed signs you may function better with structure, stimulus, and physical workplace rhythms.

1. Remote Work Doesn’t Give You Your Social Fuel

Not everyone realizes how much their energy depends on being around others until those interactions disappear indefinitely.

A 2023 review published in Healthcare documented that prolonged remote work was associated with increased isolation, higher rates of anxiety and depression, reduced job satisfaction, and lower employee engagement. This is because all the big and small social interactions of the office space, like casual conversations, micro-interactions, shared routines, and even passing eye contact, play a huge role in maintaining motivation.

Remote work strips away these built-in social cues, which can leave certain personality types floating without emotional anchors. People who struggle most tend to be:

High-empathy........

© Psychology Today