Editor's note: This popular story from the Daily Briefing's archives was republished on June 9, 2023.

Since the pandemic, many people are now skipping the office commute and working from home (WFH) — but being fully remote can also come with potential downsides. Writing in the New York Times, Jordan Metzl, a sports medicine physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery, explains how WFH can negatively impact both your mental and physical health. 

The physical impact of WFH

According to Metzl, technological advances have helped humans become more sedentary over time, often to the detriment of our health, and this trend has accelerated even more in the last few years.

During the pandemic, step counts for NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) behavior decreased as more people began to WFH. NEAT behavior refers to the daily steps people take during everyday living, rather than steps from exercise. It includes steps taken walking to and from lunch, an office, or even the parking lot.

Currently, many people who are WFH are not getting in enough steps every day, which can increase their risk of certain diseases, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and more. Prolonged inactivity can also negatively impact both your life expectancy and health profile.

"The more we move, the healthier we are," Metzl writes. "Moving every day doesn't just make us feel better, it's among the most far-reaching and effective forms of preventive medicine."

Physical inactivity can also contribute to rising healthcare costs. In the United States, 18% of the national GDP, or $4.3 trillion, is spent on healthcare. The two most expensive health conditions, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, cost more than $500 billion per year, even though they can largely be prevented with a healthy diet and regular movement.

"We're spending the most and moving the least," Metzl writes. "… As we move less, the associated health care costs will rise."

How WFH can affect your mental health

WFH all the time can also negatively impact your mental health. Humans are "social animals," Meztl writes, and "our brains thrive with in-person relationships." In-person interactions can help people read body language, understand nuances in conversations, and work more effectively with others.

According to some studies, rates of depression and anxiety have increased during remote work. Although virtual communication can be easier, it can also feel quite isolating for some people. EEG studies have also shown that in-person interactions produce stronger and longer-lasting psychological connections than virtual ones.

In general, the effects of remote work largely depend on the person. In a recent compilation of studies, workers had mixed results. Although some people thrived and reported feeling healthier and happier, others said they were less active and felt more isolated and depressed.

Since "remote work is here to stay," Metzl suggests that the "best way forward might be a hybrid of in-person and remote work to ensure socialization and daily movement."

If you're already working fully remote, consider setting up specific meetings to stay connected and set aside time to exercise. And if "your company calls for a return to in-person work, at least part-time, recognize this as favorable for your long-term health," Metzl writes. (Metzl, New York Times, 3/14)