Working from home some days is good for your health. A new study of more than 2,000 hybrid workers found they exercise more, sleep longer and eat better than before.
The average hybrid worker now gets 4.7 hours of exercise a week, up from 3.4 hours before the pandemic. Walking, running and strength training top the list.
More sleep, better food
Less commuting means more rest. The extra morning time adds up to 71 hours – nearly three full days – of extra sleep a year.
Food habits improved too. Seventy per cent said hybrid work lets them cook a healthy breakfast every day. More than a quarter said they have lost weight since the shift began.
Mental health has improved too. Workers say the extra time at home lowers daily stress, and many report feeling more in control of their schedules. Fewer rushed mornings mean calmer days.
Time is the real benefit
The biggest drivers were simple: more time to exercise and more time to cook. No gym membership or diet plan required – just hours given back by the missing commute.
Employers are taking note. Some companies now advertise hybrid schedules as a health benefit, alongside gym memberships and insurance. In a tight job market, flexibility has become a selling point. Whether hybrid work stays common may depend on the economy, but workers who have tasted the extra hours are unlikely to give them up quietly.
The debate over remote work will continue. But for health, the evidence is quietly building.
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