Home office: 6 keys to a healthy work life at home

We tell you how to neutralise the threats of teleworking, so you can enjoy more personal time and improve your productivity.

Everything points to the fact that this year will not be remembered with much nostalgia. If they made a remake of "Those Wonderful Years", 2020 would not pass the casting. But it doesn't all have to be negative. Many people will remember it as the year in which they made the definitive leap to teleworking, with all that that entails. Because working from home has, without a doubt, many advantages, but it can also have some disadvantages if you are not careful.

In a study carried out by Monapart in conjunction with the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya on the use of housing during confinementWhile many people have been forced to return to the office, many companies have embraced this trend and are allowing their employees to work remotely. While many people have been forced to return to the office, many companies have embraced the trend and are allowing their employees to work remotely. This is not just for convenience, but also because it can increase productivity. above 6%.

However, in order to improve both our productivity and our quality of life, it is important to take into account a number of factors which, if not well managed from the outset, can end up making teleworking more of a burden than an asset.

Here are 6 keys to enjoying the benefits of teleworking:

The office in a separate space

We know, not everyone has an extra room in which to set up an office. There may even be more than one person teleworking at home, with all that this entails: videoconference meetings, incompatible musical tastes, schedules or routines that are difficult to combine... If you are lucky enough to have separate spaces for work and family life, don't hesitate.

And if you don't have extra rooms, at least make sure that your work corner doesn't interfere too much with the rest of your life. For example, it will always be preferable to have a separate desk where you can spend your working day, rather than having your computer set up on your dining room table and eating dinner in front of an Excel document.

Set schedules (and stick to them)

These do not need to be strict timetables if your work does not require it. But don't make the mistake of extending your working day longer than necessary, as you will be ruining one of the main advantages of teleworking, which is to enjoy more time in your personal life. Use the time you used to spend commuting to spend it on activities you really enjoy, and don't let your time in front of the screen spiral into a spiral of news about how bad the world is.

Take care of the health of your home

If you are going to spend more hours than ever indoors, make sure you work in a healthy environment. And we're not just talking about avoiding viruses, but about acquiring a series of habits that can significantly increase your quality of life. From tidiness and cleanliness to good ventilation for clean the air at homeThe decoration and the plants are some of the elements that can help you. All this can help you to enjoy a healthier homeIt can even save you from distractions, making you perform better at your job.

Make the most of the outdoor space

One of the risks of living and working in the same space is that you can end up becoming a pseudo-vampire, with no sunlight to brush against your skin for days at a time. While not everyone can enjoy an outdoor space, according to Monapart's survey 85% of people have at least a small balcony, and 44.5% of homes have enough space to bring out a table and several chairs.

But we have also witnessed in our 10 years of experience that many of these outdoor spaces are undervalued or underused. If you have a balcony or terrace, make sure you have it well conditioned to go out and get some fresh air, sunshine, or even just to look at the infinite and rest your eyes every now and then. If you need help, here are a few tips for making the most of your terraceand some ideas for renovating your outdoor space.

Take advantage of the economic benefits

If you telework as an employee, your employer should provide you with the means to work from home. And just as you will be saving on commuting time, you may also be saving on petrol or public transport.

However, if you are self-employed, you may want to consult an agency about the possible tax deductions for living and working in the same space. First of all, you must include your address on form 036, specifying the percentage of the home dedicated to professional activity. You can also deduct proportionally the taxes associated with the consumption of utilities. You may not notice it much on a monthly basis, but any small saving is a blessing in the difficult life of the self-employed.

Find the right home

As mentioned above, more and more companies have decided to open up to teleworking indefinitely, and not just to avoid the pandemic. As well as increasing the productivity of their workforce, for some companies it can also save on office rent. If you see that teleworking is here to stay, you may want to make changes that you will be grateful for in the long term, such as renovating your home for the new situation, or finding the perfect place to move to.

And if you own a flat but you need more space to set up your office, you can also sell or rent your home to help you finance the change.

If you have been teleworking for some time and can think of any other examples you would have liked to receive, please leave them in the comments below and we will include them in the post.