Is remote working for everyone?
NO, but it has improved my quality of life tenfold.
For context, in 2018 I was living a relatively normal life when I started experiencing continuous one-sided facial pain. After 2 months of investigations, it suddenly disappeared... awesome! Fast forward to May of the following year, days after getting engaged, it came back with a vengeance. With the help of a fantastic neurology research team and a persistent father-in-law, I was diagnosed with Cluster Headaches.
Recently, that diagnosis got updated to Hemicrania Continua. Curious to find out more? Click the link.
However, this post is not about my condition.
It's about how remote working changed my life as someone with an invisible disorder.
Benefit #1: Environmental Autonomy
If you've ever worked in an office before, you'll probably have experienced the bright white lights above your desk, constant discussions about what temperature the thermostat should be, or someone complaining about how loud someone else is talking.
Except for usually complaining that it was too cold in the office in winter, those things didn't typically bother me... until all of these became my triggers.
Unfortunately for me, my condition can have migraine-like symptoms, so things such as light and sound can hugely impact me.
By working most of the time at home, I have complete environmental autonomy and can work in a way that enables me to work at my best while trying to manage my condition.
This led to...
Benefit #2: Improved productivity and happiness
One of the biggest wins of remote working is that it gives me at least 2 hours a day back that I'd previously have spent commuting. Particularly for those with offices in Central London like myself, most people do not enjoy commuting, whether in the comfort of their own car or stuck under someone's armpit on the tube.
Working from home enables healthier routines, whether sleeping a little longer or giving you the time to have a workout, learn something new, or just spend some much-needed time with your loved ones.
Spending time with loved ones has been one of my biggest wins, as my wife works shift work... pre-remote working, despite living together, we'd barely see each other for 6-7 days every 10. Being in the house gives us those extra moments that have contributed to my overall happiness.
Which led to...
Benefit #3: Finding a better work/life balance
This is definitely a benefit that can ebb and flow depending on the type of organisation you work for. I'm lucky enough to have a great manager who pushes for a healthy balance and gives us autonomy in getting our job done. He's always the first to remind us to put our health and family first.
This has enabled me to work in a way that suits my life and pain. Whether it means stepping away for half an hour when the pain gets too much or turning up to calls wearing an ice pack and/or sunglasses. I'm finding ways that help make the day a little easier.
Because of these 3 benefits, I'm slowly learning to advocate for myself and put my well-being first.
In the last 3 months, I've learned that you must advocate for yourself because no one else can do it for you. It's even more complicated when your condition is not "visible".
Only do what you can when you can.