Interview with Dr. Frieda Wiley
In today’s episode, Dr. Frieda Wiley shares her secrets for thriving in a remote healthcare job.
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Frieda is a pharmacist who worked remotely for several years and is the author of Telecommuting Psychosis: From Surviving to Thriving While Working in Your Pajama Pants.
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Telecommuting Psychosis?
Telecommuting Psychosis is not a recognized clinical condition. However, Dr. Wiley used it in order to draw attention to the potentially severe consequences that can occur from the isolation and lack of direct human contact that results from working remotely.
Frieda wrote the book to shed light on this issue, and to share techniques for preventing and reversing the adverse effects. Simple self-care measures that are described in the book can greatly help to eliminate these effects.
Effects of Working Remotely
The drawbacks of working remotely in healthcare vary depending on your field and industry. But some of the more common psychological effects include:
- depression,
- feelings of isolation,
- trouble unplugging from the online world,
- lack of external stimulation, and
- feeling invisible
There are direct medical effects resulting from long hours spent working remotely, such as elevated lipid levels, heart disease, low vitamin D levels, and weight gain. And there is the frequently encountered reduction in career advancement due to less direct interaction with supervisors and others in the workplace hierarchy.
Dr. Frieda Wiley’s Advice
Just know that you have to be your own advocate for your work environment and for your health and that there’s no shame in seeking help.
Thriving in a Remote Healthcare Job
Dr. Wiley has several suggestions for thriving in a remote job. To maintain mental health be sure to manage your social health, use an accountability partner, create a social calendar to enhance human interactions, develop a daily mindfulness practice, and “become a tourist in your own town.”
To improve your physical health you should first check the ergonomics of your remote working environment, schedule physical activity and formal exercise, supplement Vitamin D if needed, and take breaks every 20 minutes to address eye strain and dryness.
Properly integrate childcare into your workday, if necessary. Keep workspace separate from other areas. And set boundaries with friends and people who live with you.
Summary
Dr. Wiley addresses these topics and others in much more detail in her book. Go to her website to order it. If you have any questions regarding any of these subjects or would need coaching on how to identify and deal with the drawbacks of working remotely, you may use the contact form on her website, or send her an email at frieda@friedawiley.com.
NOTE: Look below for a transcript of today’s episode.
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Links for Today’s Episode:
- Telecommuting Psychosis: From Surviving to Thriving While Working in Your Pajama Pants
- Dr. Frieda Wiley’s LinkedIn Page
- Add Discipline to Creativity to Be a Successful Medical Writer – 179
- How to Shine as a Technical Medical Writer – 155
- How to Become a Medical Writer with Dr. Mandy Armitage – 022
- How to Find Freedom as a Freelance Medical Writer with Dr. Emma Nichols – 056
- NewScr!pt
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