Home office, telecommuting & sleep: what are the consequences?

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, those struggling with insomnia may have felt these issues worsen. The term "coronasomnia" was even coined to define those who experienced sleep problems directly related to the pandemic. While many of the containment measures have been lifted, mask use, hybrid learning school programs and work-from-home routines continue to evolve. A new study from the National University of Singapore sheds light on how changes in lifestyle and well-being after reopening were moderated by participants' post-lockdown work arrangements. Observing around 200 students and employees in Singapore since April 2020, participants were asked to wear a sleep and physical activity tracker at all times. They also completed a questionnaire and cognitive assessment games twice daily, as well as longer online surveys every four weeks. The researchers also tracked screen time, particularly time spent on a device near bedtime. When the lockdown ended, the majority of participants reported different combinations of work-life and work-from-home, while one-third of the sample continued to work from home fully. The different working environment conditions may be related to the gradual reopening strategy implemented by the Singapore government. Sleep time and daily activity returned to more normal values ​​for those who returned to work more often, while those who continued to work from home showed little change in activity and sleep time. Telecommuters also reported sleep problems, even after the lockdown was lifted. While many people's sleep schedules shifted to later sleep and wake times, the participants' schedules changed again when adapting to new work environments. "These effects appear to reflect a reverse pattern of lifestyle changes observed at the onset of the restrictions," the study says. Data shows that during telecommuting the boundaries between leisure time and work hours are blurred, creating a higher risk of shifting sleep later or using the phone late at night. People with low bedtime phone use reported more physical activity, both during and after the lockdown. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an even faster transition to remote work, with 35% of the population working remotely. Delayed sleep schedules, in general, may be associated with negative health outcomes and may reflect misalignment with natural night-day rhythms. The pandemic has caused the global workforce to adapt to a mix of in-person, remote and hybrid work environments. Seeing some positive effects of this normalization of hybrid work, some companies may adopt hybrid work policies in the future as well. That's why the researchers note how important it is to monitor the long-term evolution of these behaviors and develop recommendations and programs to address the negative effects telecommuting has on sleep and physical activity patterns. For those who stay home most of the week, it's important to set boundaries between work and personal life at home. A morning walk for break can encourage a more active lifestyle. The article was originally edited by Sarah Schoen, sleep reporter – Sleep editorial staff member Foundation .