Telecommuting is detrimental to well-being and productivity... if you don't set your own rules!
I'm the first to be concerned, and here's my advice based on my own experience over the past 2 years as a true "quasi" full remote! 

 

1. Furnish your workspace!

This first point is obviously easy to implement when you're lucky enough to have a dedicated room. Personally, I can't concentrate on a single piece of worktop in the kitchen.

So I invested in an ergonomic chair, a real table and good lighting. I've taken the time to create a space of my own that I enjoy going to in the morning.

 

2. Move (and whistle) while you work!

That's the luxury I treated myself to. Not being a great sportswoman and spending 8 hours a day behind a desk, I decided to invest in a height-adjustable sit-stand desk!

I love working on my feet in the afternoons, so I don't feel sluggish after lunch, and also when I'm giving video interviews, because it helps me to be in a dynamic posture of exchange!

I bought my electric desk from Gosto and I really recommend a visit to their showroom in Wasquehal (near Lille in the Hauts de France region). They've got a great selection and, above all, excellent advice on ergonomic workstations.

 

And when I'm sitting down, I try to pedal for an hour a day. I can't do it during videoconferences because I move around too much, but when I'm doing more administrative tasks or keeping an eye on things, it's a perfect fit!

The crankset I chose is very stable and easy to use, and is the DeskCycle2 model. You can find it for 160 euros on Amazon.

3. Leave your workspace!

In the corporate world, going to a meeting or visiting a colleague's office allowed me to change my perspective on a subject and fuel my creativity.

At home, when I get stuck, I take a break and work for 30 minutes in the living room.😉

And if you have the chance, go and work for a day or two in a co-working environment. It's a great way to get your mind off things, exchange ideas "in real life" and continue networking...

 

4. Set yourself a regular schedule!

I set myself a start and end time for the day to impose real limits on my personal life. I have to admit, school/daycare schedules help me keep a pretty healthy rhythm!

I also set work slots in my diary to encourage me to switch subjects without getting caught up in an activity that lasts too long.

 

5. Take a break!

Clearly for me it's not intuitive, but I really do recommend taking regular breaks and airing yourself out: coffee, a 15-minute walk outside, small talk on the phone with a colleague on a trivial subject (the latest netflix series, your lunch ...).

Your productivity and well-being will thank you!

Bonus: a 20-minute nap at lunchtime, perfect for getting back into shape for the afternoon 🙂

 

6. Maintain moments of relaxation

After 3 months of full remote, I've managed to take control of my life and set myself 30 minutes of fitness, on average 3 times a week in the morning (thanks to my husband who leaves the house at 8.20am with the kids!).

Teleworking leads to a sedentary lifestyle that really needs to be compensated for by sport, meditation or another "active" hobby, otherwise the body and mind start to bug out and demand attention!

 

7. Put your vacations on hold!

It may seem obvious, but staying at home to work doesn't mean you can't take as many vacations as you used to!

 

8. Manage your personal tasks without guilt

One of the advantages of telecommuting is that I can get on with "household" tasks during the week. So yes, I hang out my washing between two calls and tidy up the house, giving me a useful break and allowing me to enjoy a weekend with fewer "to-dos".

 

9. Children are not stowaways!

Since COVID, children appear on screens and if my son comes home from school during a video with a candidate, it's no big deal, it's just real life!

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that managing this situation well actually helps to create a bond with my contacts!

 

10. Turn off notifications

No notifications and personal applications on the phone outside office hours, otherwise I'm clearly on LinkedIn in the middle of dinner, and that's no fun for anyone.

This is the hardest piece of advice for me to put into practice, because I find that the temptation to check your phone after a day of remote work is even greater than after a face-to-face meeting where the journey has given you a break from your professional tools!

 

11. Eating is not cheating

Forget the bowl of cereal and really fuel the engine!

Take the time for a real break ... go for lunch with colleagues, friends, your partner, take a real break!

 

12. Call for help

If you can't put these tips into practice, don't hesitate to ask your manager, HR, colleagues or family for help!

Telecommuting isn't that easy or straightforward to set up, and you can quickly become overwhelmed by the impact of work on your personal life, or fall into cabin syndrome (= no longer wanting to go out or see other people).

 

I hope you find these tips useful, and on that note ... back to my lovely "office"!