Compassion, privilege and working in your pajama pants - Looks Like Work, Season 1, Ep 27
What happens when working from home stops being a perk—and starts affecting your mental health?
In this honest and deeply validating conversation, Chedva Ludmir is joined by pharmacist, author, and remote work veteran Dr. Frida Wiley, whose new book Telecommuting Psychosis unpacks the hidden costs of working from home. Long before “Zoom fatigue” was a household phrase, Dr. Wiley was navigating remote work in a world built for office visibility.
Together, they discuss the emotional and professional toll of isolation, the assumptions that come with being “just at home,” and why making your work visible as a remote employee is not about performance—it’s about survival. Frida shares candid reflections and practical tools for boundary-setting, mental health advocacy, and reframing what productivity can look like outside the office.
This episode is both a resource and a permission slip—for anyone working remotely who’s ever felt unseen, misunderstood, or unsure how to protect their energy.
What We Talk About
The early days of telecommuting—and how little empathy there was
Frida’s own story of burnout, isolation, and reinvention
The pandemic shift: what changed, and what stayed hard
Why visibility and proximity still shape power at work
Advocating for yourself without falling into performative traps
Digital tools vs. true equity
How different remote jobs come with very different stress
Strategic time tracking and protecting your non-negotiables
What it means to say “this doesn’t work for me”—without guilt
Frida’s Powerful Message
“There’s never any shame in coming forward and saying, ‘Hey, I don’t feel okay in this environment. Hey, I need some help.’”
A message for anyone quietly struggling under the weight of invisible labor.Key Lessons
Remote work requires clear boundaries, not constant availability
Visibility matters—advocacy is part of the job when you’re remote
Every role, industry, and individual brings a unique flavor of telework stress
Mental health isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for remote sustainability
What looks like “flexibility” from the outside often involves invisible labor
Compassion, communication, and clarity are the real productivity tools
“If you don’t set clear boundaries for yourself and with your employer and clients, then there will be no end.”
Listen to this episode on Spotify | Apple | Wherever you get your podcasts
Resources & Mentions:
Visit Dr. Frieda’s Website
Order Dr. Frieda’s Book Telecommuting Psychosis
Follow Dr. Frieda on LinkedIn
Try Dr. Frieda’s Favorite Planning App, Toggl
Catch up on previous seasons of Looks Like Work wherever you get your podcasts: Spotify | Apple | Podbean
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