There has always been a better way, now the unfortunate events of lockdown have made it clearer than ever.
Much has been said about the negative effects of self-isolation on our mental health, but little about the benefit of wellbeing. Before the pandemic our lifestyle caused problems with physical and mental health, and eroded communities. Now restrictions have forced us to slow down, re-examine our lifestyle and reconnect with people. Before we were rushed off our feet working long days, spending hours commuting and hardly socialising. Lockdown has not only shown we do not always need to travel about continuously to do our jobs, but also helped us realise we are heading for breakdown. The slower pace of life is stress relieving, there is more time to exercise, eat healthier, sleep well, and socialise with friends and family. Home working has had a positive impact on work-life-balance leaving people happier, healthier and more fulfilled, something that good employers have always been striving for. Working from home has other benefits besides personal well-being. There is often increased productivity, reduced office overheads, less fuel consumption and friendlier urban environments. With limited commuting pollutions are reduced, not to mention a relief to our diminishing wildlife.
Workhome is nothing new. In the architectural field home working has long been a desired model of achievement in urban design, and it is best practice in space standards for all new dwellings to include an office space, although the present government abolished positive initiatives in standards like The Code for Sustainable Homes in 2015. The UK still has the worst space standards in Europe. The modern concept of workhome was used in 1922 by Le Corbusier (Ozenfant’s Atelier), re-emerging in the 1980-90s as a new house type and working from home has been a growing trend long before the current circumstance. With the ever-growing population working from home is the future. Agile working is a new principle being adopted across office management to improve performance, equality, culture and wellbeing. Holistic spaces are being designing into every office environment to bring people, process, connectivity, and technology together and find the most appropriate and effective way of working, whether that be in the office, from home, or on the move.
People may finally realise money making does not always give quality of life, which generally comes from living well and connecting with those we live with. I gained an extra day in a week with working from home. A whole day wasted travelling! Since lockdown my usual isolated country walks have become crowded. I have never seen so many people appreciating the local countryside, greeting regularly elderly neighbours I have never seen before. I fear however things will eventually go back to ‘normal’, when all this is a lifestyle choice we desperately need to change. Agile working helps us lead balanced and healthy lives, fostering performance, development, and wellbeing.
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