She Got Vulnerable And Shared Just How Depressed Working From Home Has Made Her, Sparking Conversation Online About Strategies To Preserve Mental Health As A Remote Worker

Chip Chick |

Nov 17, 2023

Moha - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only, not the actual person

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have been working from home.

Before all of the lockdowns and quarantine procedures, working from home used to be a special kind of privilege or something employees got to experience every once in a while. What used to be a fairly abnormal way of working became one of the most popular work environments in the job world today.

Now, in 2023, it’s much more common to meet people who work remotely full-time or are only in the office two to three days a week.

While working from home does have many obvious perks, like not having to worry about commutes, being able to lounge in whatever cozy spot at home you like the best, and having everything you need for the day at home.

However, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut when working from home, and there are parts of a traditional in-person work environment you miss out on, like social interactions with co-workers and solid daily routines.

British TikTok creator Grace (@graceaamelia) recently made a vulnerable video about how she’s been feeling depressed due to her mundane work-from-home routine, and it’s striking a nerve with a crowd she refers to as “depressed work-from-home girlies.”

“I can’t be the only one going through this work-from-home depression right now,” says Grace at the start of her TikTok.

“Especially since it’s going to rain for the next five months, I might literally not leave the house.”

Grace explains how she goes straight from her bed to her laptop most mornings. On a good day, she might go to the gym after she logs out of work, but overall, she has an average workout. Then she’ll go home and scroll on social media while sitting in front of the television before going to bed to repeat everything the next day.

Moha – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person

Grace finds herself in that rough position a lot of people who’ve been working from home are in, where they could try harder to find a typical office job, but the idea of having to adjust their routines and sit in an office all day, even if it’s just for a few days a week, makes their skin crawl.

“I genuinely can’t bear the thought of this just continuing, but then I don’t know what to do to change it,” says Grace.

“Even when I do get invited to social stuff, at least, I don’t wanna go. But it’s like, I’ve literally spent all my time inside, and now when I’ve got an opportunity to go outside, I don’t wanna go.”

Since beginning to work from home every day, Grace says her body has started to “repel” her from any kind of social interaction.

At the end of her video, Grace asks her viewers if they know of any solution for her work-from-home funk.

Many TikTok users in Grace’s comment section related to her issue, agreeing that while working remotely is the best option for them practically, it can still take its toll on mental health.

“I struggle so much not working in an office anymore [and] it’s been five months,” commented one user.

“But I do love my job.”

Many users recommended getting through tough work-from-home winters by getting up at least an hour before your log-in time to get out of the house and get active.

Many recommended going to the gym or even considering adopting a dog to help break up your routine with walks and playtime.

Overall, it seems that any excuse to get you up and out of the house during a remote workday, whether it’s working a few hours in a coffee shop or taking a quick walk around the block and listening to a podcast during your lunch break, should be taken.

They’ll help you feel a bit less lonely and slowly get you out of your rut.

Working from home during the winter can feel incredibly isolating and lonely. So remember to rely on help and love from your friends and family to get you through it, and hang in there!