Invisible cocoon: the silent exhaustion of remote work

The shift to remote work was, for many, a milestone. No more commuting, flexible hours, the chance to blend work and personal life — everything seemed to point to a more balanced and human future. But there’s a less visible side to this new paradigm. A side that creeps in slowly, almost unnoticed: the emotional fatigue born from a life without movement.

Energy, instead of being renewed, stagnates.
Motivation drains away without warning.
Comfort becomes a kind of anaesthetic: you’re functional, but rarely inspired.

And perhaps most worryingly: you gradually stop looking outward — because everything, seemingly, is already inside. And as cosy as home may be, it cannot replace the world.

In-person work is not just a formality. It’s a space for human connection, mental stimulation, and spontaneity. The physical presence of others — gestures, shared pauses, glances — all of it reactivates us.

With remote work, there’s a subtle but constant absence: no shared laughter between tasks, no impromptu coffees where ideas are born, no unexpected stimuli to break the day’s predictability.

The world becomes too internal. And with that, the joy of being alive fades — not because something tangible is missing, but because the unexpected is.

A Freedom That Isolates

Working from home every day seems like the ideal scenario. And at first, perhaps it is. There’s a sense of control, of autonomy. But over time, what you gain in comfort, you lose in vitality.

Home stops being a refuge and becomes a routine. You’re always there — between the sofa and the desk. The coffee machine has become your canteen, and the silence of the house, your only colleague. Gradually, you stop going out. You no longer feel like getting dressed, getting fresh air, or socialising.

And before you know it, you’re in a cocoon where your energy dwindles a little more each day.

The Lack of Human Stimuli

Humans need contact. It’s not just a social need — it’s biological. Seeing people, hearing voices, catching someone’s eye, exchanging ideas — all of this activates the brain and nourishes our mood. In remote work, the lack of physical stimuli reduces our capacity for enthusiasm.

Even daily wins feel smaller, because there’s no one to share them with in the moment. And over time comes a silent apathy: it’s not depression, but it’s no longer joy either.

The Importance of Being Present

Going to the office might feel like an effort — and sometimes it is. But what you get in return outweighs every minute of the commute: connection.

• You overhear spontaneous conversations that make you laugh.
• You exchange ideas that wouldn’t have come up over email.
• You feel like you’re part of something alive, happening in real time.

The simple act of going out, wearing something chosen with intention rather than just for comfort, meeting people, hearing real sounds — all of this has a deep impact on our well-being. Being among people reminds us that we exist beyond our job title.

That we are more than productivity — we are also presence, emotion, and connection. It’s not about romanticising the office. It’s about reclaiming what it represents: human energy.

And that energy is contagious — it makes us want to do, to go, to live.

Awaken the Body, Reignite the Day

If you feel tired, drained, dragging yourself through the days at home... maybe you’re not working too much.

Maybe you’re just living too little. So, whenever possible, return. Not for the sake of protocol, but for the life that happens in between the lines:

...in the smile you can’t see on screen,
...in the idea that won’t fit in a chat window,
...in the sense of belonging no virtual meeting can replicate.

Go out. Take up space in the world.

Because a part of you only awakens when you cross paths with others. And that part — the one that truly lives — misses you.

Because out there — even with traffic, noise, and meetings — there is life.
And it feels good to feel it.