Over the past few years, remote work has gone from novelty to norm. Some might even say we have experienced a structural shift in the way we now approach our working lives. For many professionals, it has been liberating—bringing greater flexibility, autonomy, and that all-important break from long, draining commutes. But beneath the convenience and freedom lies an eroding work-life balance, blurred boundaries and for some, intense feelings of isolation. We spoke to Helen Godliman, Head of HR Operations & Projects, Instant Offices to get her take on practical steps HR can take to help combat these negative feelings as well as sharing the benefits of switching to hybrid-work models.
Hidden Toll of Remote Work
Most commonly reported mental health challenges
- Loneliness and isolation: Without daily face-to-face interaction, emotional resilience can take a hit.
- Digital fatigue: Back-to-back virtual meetings can be mentally exhausting in a way that in-person contact simply isn’t
- Work-life imbalance: When your office is your kitchen, the “off” switch becomes harder to find.
- Overwork: Without physical boundaries, many employees extend their hours and skip breaks.
- Technology can be frustrating: From poor Wi-Fi to endless notifications, tech can sometimes feel more draining than empowering.
Burnout often stems from the inability to disconnect. To combat burnout it’s essential to rethink how and where we work.
Helen Godliman, Head of HR Operations & Projects, Instant Offices
Practical Tips to Support Mental Health Remotely
Create clear boundaries | set consistent work hours. Shut your laptop at the end of the day. Physically separate your workspace from where you relax, if you can. Helen Godliman, Head of HR Operations & Projects, Instant Offices noted, “Burnout often stems from the inability to disconnect. To combat burnout, it’s essential to rethink how and where we work. Flexible workplaces, whether at home or in shared environments, can help professionals create clear boundaries, fostering balance and reducing the mental strain that leads to burnout.”
- Build micro-interactions | schedule 10-minute “coffee chats” with colleagues. These informal catch-ups can go a long way in boosting morale.
- Get outside daily | even a short lunchtime walk resets the nervous system. Exposure to natural light helps regulate your mood and sleep.
- Normalise mental health check-ins | managers should model vulnerability and proactively ask about wellbeing—not just workload.
Hybrid—Mental Health Sweet Spot
As more companies embrace hybrid work, this model offers the best of both worlds by blending in-office collaboration with remote flexibility. Some mental health benefits include:
- Reduced isolation: even just one or two office days per week can nurture connection and combat loneliness.
- Increased autonomy: employees can choose the environment that suits their workflow or energy that day.
- Healthier boundaries: a physical office creates natural start-and-stop points in the day.
- Variety and stimulation: alternating between spaces helps avoid mental stagnation and sparks creativity.
With measures like this and a little flexibility, HR should be able to leverage the benefits of remote workforces and create more sustainable work cultures to boot.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
