Working From Home May Help You Sleep More But Could Also Make You Less Active: Study

Working from home may give people a little more time to sleep, but it could also reduce how much they move during the day, according to a new study from the University of Turku in Finland.

Researchers from the university studied hybrid workers to understand how their daily movement, sedentary behaviour and sleep differed between days spent working remotely and days spent working in an office.

The findings showed that remote work was linked to 15 minutes more sleep, but also 45 minutes more sedentary time compared with office workdays.

Remote Workers Slept 15 Minutes Longer

The study found that people slept an average of 15 minutes longer on days when they worked from home than on days when they worked in an office.

This extra sleep may partly be connected to the absence of commuting. On office days, time spent travelling to and from work can involve walking or cycling, while remote workers do not have this part of the daily routine.

However, the additional sleep came alongside a reduction in physical activity.

Sitting And Lying Down Increased By 45 Minutes

People spent 45 minutes longer sitting and/or lying down on remote workdays.

Researchers found that the increase in sedentary behaviour was mainly because participants spent less time standing. One possible reason is that standing workstations may not be as easily available at home as they are in some office environments.

Standing, light physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity all decreased during remote workdays.

Also Read: 5 Habits that Can Transform Your Body At Any Age

Commuting Activity May Be Replaced By Sitting

The researchers also found that walking and cycling that took place on office days were at least partly replaced by sitting, lying down and sleeping on remote workdays.

The lack of commuting is likely to be one reason for this difference, according to the researchers. This means that although working from home may remove the time and effort involved in travelling to an office, it can also remove some of the movement that naturally happens as part of commuting.

How Can Remote Workers Stay More Active?

The researchers recommend regularly breaking up periods of sitting when working from home.

Their suggestions include changing working positions throughout the day, taking breaks from sitting, taking longer and more active breaks on remote workdays, and adding more physical activity during leisure time.

They also suggest discussing break practices with colleagues and making time for activities that involve movement.

Also Read: Expert Reveals Joint Health Secrets for People Who Sit All Day

What Did The Study Involve?

The WORKDAY study included 99 hybrid workers. Participants wore an accelerometer on their thigh during both office and remote workdays. The device was used to measure sleep, sedentary time, and physical activity throughout the day. The research was published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

Final Word

Working from home may provide a small sleep benefit, but the study shows that it can also lead to less standing and physical activity and around 45 extra minutes of sedentary behaviour. Replacing some of the movement lost through commuting with active breaks and leisure-time physical activity may help make remote workdays more active.