Those of us able to carry out our jobs remotely should count ourselves lucky on this one. Routines are vital during times of confinement and isolation, as highlighted by some of the other points on this list. But the breakdown in routine can make the days start to run together. Sure, this isn't Shawshank, and we're not exactly getting two months in the hole with no sunlight. Loss of the sense of time is one of the most profound effects of cabin fever in remote work. Doing so can help to stop tension bubbling up further down the line. But it's worth making sure everyone is on the same page before cabin fever sets in. We're not suggesting you go full-on, dividing the house with lines of tape and building home-made hazmat suits. Having this conversation early on can help establish some ground rules to keep everyone from treading on each other's toes. You may be working remotely, but soft skills like emotional intelligence are more vital than ever. If you or someone you know has been dealing with quarantine anxiety, they might struggle to speak up. Voicing concerns early on can make them easier to address if they become problems later on.īut even though we've all been isolating ourselves for what feels like forever, it's still a conversation that's worth having. If this whole thing were just getting started, then we would advise you to sit everyone down for this conversation as soon as possible. Anyone could potentially suffer from it, regardless of employment. With everyone self-isolating, it's not just remote staff we have to worry about experiencing cabin fever. Feelings of distrust and social paranoiaĪddress concerns with family or housemates.
And the prevalence of remote work combined with social distancing creates a perfect storm. Social isolation doesn't just keep you away from other people it coops you up alongside the people you're already with, which overtime can lead to issues. With enough time, literally anyone can still fall victim to the effects of cabin fever. And it doesn't matter how many movies, games and good books you have on-hand. You aren't immune, even if you're self-isolating with family or housemates. The consequences of cabin feverĬabin fever is more than just a combination of boredom and loneliness. So we're looking at the current risks of cabin fever when working remotely in the age of Coronavirus (and beyond). It doesn't quite feel real, and you could swear your laundry basket was talking to you a moment ago.Ĭabin fever can take its toll on anyone, not just lonely woodsmen up in the Rockies. Suddenly, the places you used to go become hard to remember. You start to lose track of how many days have gone by. While self-isolation in the face of COVID-19 is certainly necessary, that doesn't make it easy.