Many companies have adopted the work model called “Home Office” and are getting used to working from home. It can be said that the "Home Office" is known among many employees as the dream job. This practice has grown more and more because, even in the Home Office, many companies have seen excellent results from their employees. But it is not such an easy task and sometimes obstacles can arise and you have to know how to deal with them: like, for example, the dog that won't stop barking or the children who want attention, and even your neighbor who has decided to do this cleaning and turn up the sound to the highest volume. So, if you are new to the “Home Office” or if you are already used to this work model, keep reading. We, from Take 5, have prepared 10 tips that will help you work from home and manage this routine. Check it out! 1 – Turn on the key We put it as one of the first functions because many people think that working from home means spending the day in pajamas or even in bed. And here's a little secret: our body behaves according to the environment we provide it. In a comfortable environment like our bed, it senses that we are comfortable and reacts accordingly. So, “flip the switch,” wake up, and do a morning routine, whether it’s drinking your coffee, changing your clothes, or doing your morning exercises, you’re in charge! Get your body used to this new routine and get used to this environment. 2 – Establish your schedule If there is a factor that we must consider when working from home, it is to have discipline in our work and functions and, at the same time, to know how to manage the flexibility that the Home Office offers us. This adaptation is carried out little by little, without pressure, so that it does not become a tedious job. Determining your work schedule is a very important step because from there you will be able to organize your daily tasks, making your day much more productive. 3 – Find a place This function may be easy for some and difficult for others, many people already have a dedicated home working environment, which makes it easier to practice Home Office. So, look for a place to work at home. Preferably a place where you can maintain your posture, where you will feel comfortable and willing to work peacefully, and an environment that is if possible quiet and pleasant. 4 – Determine some rules Establish ground rules with the people who live in the same environment where you work. Because, the absence of these small rules can disrupt your day, so analyze and talk to everyone explaining that the functions of the house can be redistributed or that stopping all the time for other reasons can directly influence the quality of your income, reserve this for break time or before and after your working hours. 5 – Breaks are welcome! Taking this little time to rest is more than necessary. Because, without this moment, your day could become boring, so align with your manager by reserving your breaks to stretch your legs. Do not forget that determining a lunch break is very important because just because you are at home does not mean you have to take advantage of this reduced time. 6 – Free yourself from your cell phone This may not be an easy task, but it is entirely up to you. Your mobile phone will distract you, which can directly influence your concentration. So, go to the settings and turn off notifications on your mobile phone. This may sound drastic, but it only happens during your working hours and ensures that you will not have any distractions during your Home Office. 7 – Provide the necessary support If the company you work for provides the necessary support for employees to work from home, great! Align with them the equipment you will need to be able to work from home, asking what is relevant and will make a difference in your routine and the quality of your work. 8 – Train even at home There is no shortage of time during the quarantine days, so do not stop training your employees, it is a great opportunity for them to take the courses that ended up being left behind or could not follow due to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You can be sure that it will be very productive for them to carry out corporate training from home and remotely. 9 – End the routine Since you started your day with a routine, nothing better than ending it by maintaining a routine as well. An essential moment to analyze and see if your day was productive, if you managed to accomplish what you had planned to do and deliver, after that, just switch off! 10 – Be present Finally, we have prepared this tip for HR managers or corporate training managers. Since we recommend the practice of organization, why not indicate an environment where you can have direct contact with employees, through a platform where you can share information that arises throughout the day? It is important that everyone is aware of and encourages this direct contact, remaining present in the employees' routine during their working hours, which reinforces this friendly experience.

Working from home is not so easy when you start as a freelancer. So here are 9 tips for finding your balance between personal and professional life, based on advice from our HR Solutions consultants.   1. Clearly define  your working hours Of course, the advantage of being independent is to work when you feel like it or when you feel efficient, but if you let things get too vague, it is not uncommon for work to gradually "eat up" evenings and weekends. Learn to set the limits of your working hours so that you can close the virtual door of your office and move on to your personal life.   2. Don't be available to your customers all the time While it seems obvious that it is better to avoid giving your number to your clients to avoid being invaded at home, the arrival of cell phones does not make it easier to separate your personal and professional lives.In the same way as for the previous point, set times when you are available to answer the phone and make appointments. Outside of these hours, filter your calls and give yourself instructions not to answer any caller except in extreme cases of emergency (which, you will see, do not happen that often).   3. Prepare as if you were going to the office It will be easier for you to concentrate if you are dressed in business attire or a suit and shoes if you are working from home.In the evening, you can change into more casual clothes to mark the difference from your workday and switch to rest mode.   4. Create a pressure relief chamber Did you used to drive to work? Now you no longer have that "buffer" time between your personal life and your professional activity.By creating a little ritual before and after starting work, you will always benefit from this very useful moment to concentrate or release pressure.It could be going around the block or having a coffee, it doesn't matter, as long as it is regular and allows you to clear your head.   5. Take care of your desk The idea is to have a dedicated room. If necessary, it should not, during your working hours, accommodate activities other than yours (children's games for example). Strip your office as much as possible of any familiar objects: no or very few family photos, neutral and sober decoration, functional furniture, radio or television to be avoided. You don't receive clients in your office? This is no reason to leave it cluttered. Remember to tidy it up regularly and organize access to the documents you need so that they are always within reach and easy to find.   6. Disconnect from digital life It's hard to separate your personal and professional lives with the latest digital tools, but with a few reflexes, it's possible to limit the intrusion of one into the other. For example, use a professional email address that's different from your one. You'll be less tempted to read the latest funny videos and will enjoy opening your mailbox once the work is done. Similarly, if you are on several social networks, dedicate some to exchanges with your friends ( Facebook ) and others to your professional contacts ( Viadeo, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. )   7. Think in terms of hourly rates Freelancers tend to favor large recurring contracts, a source of significant and secure income over the year. However, several small missions that will not take up too much of your time are just as interesting since they will give you time to do other things and therefore increase your income . For each mission, ask yourself how many hours you think you will spend on it, don't forget informal times such as travel, telephone conversations, research, etc. to determine the hourly cost.By prioritizing missions with a high hourly pay rate, you will gradually succeed in reducing your working hours.   8. Find something to immerse yourself in after work. Playing sports, going for a walk, playing with your family, cooking… the idea is to find something fun to do and, above all, to do it right after work. This will help you disconnect from your professional responsibilities.   9. Learn that you are not defined by your job. Being self-employed often means fulfilling yourself professionally and it can indeed be very rewarding. However, it is important to define yourself by other aspects: your family ties (father, mother, etc.), your leisure activities, etc. and to give them importance. This will make it easier for you to disconnect from your work as you will have sources of satisfaction outside of it. Remember that burnout candidates are often those who really (too much?) appreciate their work and invest themselves in it without counting the cost!

Consider these tips from a remote work veteran on planning and productivity. We've all seen the funny memes about couples who work from home and invent fictional co-workers to blame them for their bad behavior: “Look, “Sam” left dishes in the sink again.” You may be wondering what qualifies me to advise on this topic? My husband and I have both been working remotely full-time for the past five years, and we both have busy schedules with lots of presentations and tight deadlines, and lots of client calls, sales calls, and big projects. Over the years, I’ve learned some key lessons about how to make remote work work for both of us (in our house, controlling the thermostat is a real battle !). That said, how do you balance working from home (and sticking to your job duties) when your partner is in the same situation? Here are some ideas on how to work productively when you’re under the same roof. Discuss the ground rules Working from home together may be a new reality for many couples, so it's important to discuss boundaries, such as where in the home you'll work and when. If you are lucky enough to have a second floor or basement, consider working on different floors. Discuss your schedule before the start of each day. Do conference calls or WebEx meetings overlap? Will one of you need to move to another room in the house or put on headphones or earbuds to stay productive during this time? Do you need to “ration” or rotate bandwidth usage at home because you have multiple users (e.g., a student at home who needs to take “live” classes via a bandwidth-intensive video stream)? Keep in mind that each of you will likely need quiet periods to complete your tasks, and schedule time to do so. Make a schedule together It is important to have a routine with established “office hours” – when you will start and end your work day While it's tempting to start working when you wake up and continue well past your bedtime, stick to "office hours" and avoid keeping your computer open at all times. You may find that it's beneficial to have the same routine as when you were physically working in the office each day − e.g. wake up, workout, drink coffee/eat breakfast, get ready and start work (without having to drive!) Use the time you save by not commuting to spend with your family or to carve out some alone time, such as reading, meditating or exercising (or doing whatever else makes you happy). Make a plan for who will care for the children/pets throughout the day Don't forget to factor in child and pet care while trying to keep up with the tasks of your "day job." If this is the case for you, establish a schedule (keeping in mind that it may change from day to day) that indicates who will take care of the children and animals, and could allow, among other things, alternating between the adults in the house. If you have young children, do your best to create a separate workspace with a door (if the door is closed, no one else can come in) Have a sign saying do not disturb When you're suddenly called to work on an urgent project, take a call, or meet a deadline, have a signal to let your partner—who may enter your workspace for whatever reason—know that you can't be disturbed. This signal can be communicated with body language (nodding your head, crossing your arms, giving him a meaningful look, waving him off, etc.) or a note saying “Do not disturb” or “Urgent” that you can show Spend time together Make time to spend as a couple, not as co-workers. Check in on each other throughout the day, even if it's just a quick text message. Meet face to face at least once a day Schedule a dinner date, or a mid-afternoon break, and less screen time each day Turn off your computer completely at a set time each evening As you can see, it takes more than a high-speed internet connection and video conferencing to work effectively from home. That being said, start putting these tips into practice now to simplify your routine and increase your productivity.

However, it is not always easy to work from home: there are many distractions, the urge to procrastinate too, sometimes you can also be interrupted by your loved ones or the absence of fixed hours can throw you off your rhythm. So how do you do telework well? What are our tips for managing working from home? Adapting your environment to work from home First of all, it is important to have a suitable environment for working from home. The ideal is obviously to set up an office in a separate, quiet room. If this is not possible, you can sit at the dining table. However, make sure you have the right posture to avoid creating MSDs, the disorders that occur when you are poorly seated. The screen should be at eye level, with your feet flat on the floor, your back straight and your arms resting on the desk. Then, don't hesitate to decorate your workspace with small decorative objects, such as green plants. It relaxes the mind to be able to "see" nature. Also, set rules for those around you: even if you work from home, it's still work. Your loved ones should understand this and not disturb you during certain time slots. Finally, don't forget to schedule breaks for yourself. That's why a small clock or alarm clock can be useful, to force you to stop and remind yourself that time is not extensible. Tips for being productive while working remotely First of all, to be productive while teleworking, we recommend the "Pomodoro" method. This involves turning off your phone, and notifications, and closing your email for 25 minutes (the time of a timer). Then, you can reactivate everything for 5 minutes. You can apply this timing 4 times in a row before giving yourself a real big break. Next, don't work with the TV, Netflix, or YouTube in the background. It will just distract you. Every morning, set yourself goals to accomplish during your day. This will help you pace it. Finally, don't forget to communicate with your colleagues and your clients, but during specific time slots that you dedicate to communication. Indeed, remember to keep time for yourself, your files, and quiet time to advance your background tasks. Mistakes to avoid when working from home First of all, keep in mind that you are not a machine! Just because you are at home does not mean you are not entitled to rest. Set a schedule, avoid shifting your sleep, and, above all, give yourself breaks. Also, avoid cutting off ties with your loved ones and colleagues. The tools available, such as Skype, Zoom, Teams, and Slack are great for staying in touch. Being remote does not mean isolation. Finally, when you work from home, remember to dress properly and take care of yourself. You can definitely wear comfortable clothes, but that doesn't mean you have to neglect yourself. Taking care of yourself also means taking care of your morale.

Working from home uses up a lot more energy. An extra cup of coffee here, a full washing machine there… All the little habits you have when working from home can add up to a big energy bill. With gas and electricity prices on the rise, these seven tips for saving energy while working from home are sure to come in handy! 1. Ventilate your home Want to start your workday with a fresh head? You can do this by airing out your home before you start work. Open the windows for fifteen minutes and let the fresh air in. Not only does this help your concentration, it’s also important for removing moisture from your home. Another benefit is that a well-ventilated home warms up faster, as heat doesn’t spread as easily in a humid environment. 2. Turn the heating down one degree Although it is more economical to turn on the heating as little as possible, it can quickly get cold in the house in winter. So, if you decide to turn on the heating after airing, consider lowering it by one degree. Switching the knob from 21°C to 20°C may seem like a small difference, but each lower degree saves up to 7% of energy consumption. A temperature of 19 to 20°C is also optimal for your ability to concentrate. With a thick sweater, an extra pair of socks, and a little exercise from time to time, you will certainly not be cold. Of course, the price you pay for gas, electricity, or oil also affects your energy bill, so it's important to compare energy suppliers to find the cheapest provider to save money when working from home. 3. Bring the sunshine into your home Daylight also helps you concentrate better. By placing your desk near the window and leaving the curtains open, you can benefit from natural light. This way, you don't need to use lights during the day and you can save electricity. When the sun shines, your workplace is also heated. Need to turn on the lights anyway? Consider replacing your conventional bulbs with LED bulbs. They will last longer and you will save a lot of energy. 4. Working on a laptop Are you working on a laptop? It is more energy efficient than working on a desktop computer. A desktop computer consumes up to 50 or even 70% more energy than a laptop. The latter does not need to be plugged in all the time. Otherwise, you are consuming unnecessary energy and it is also bad for the quality of your battery. It is better for your energy bill as well as your battery to only charge your laptop when it is empty. Taking a break? Don’t forget to turn off your screen or put your laptop to sleep. Finished working? In that case, turn off your laptop completely and unplug it from the wall to prevent it from going to sleep. It’s also best to unplug any other electrical devices you’re not using. 5. Wear the same outfit when you are at home When you go to the office, you may like to wear a different outfit every day. But when you work from home, it's not so important. Wearing the same sweatpants five days in a row? Your colleagues won't notice. This way, you also save a few washes! 6. Drink a cup of coffee A working day at the office is often interrupted by a coffee or tea break. It should be no different at home. But remember that the more you turn on your coffee maker or kettle, the more energy you consume. Do you drink a lot of coffee or tea during the day? Then prepare a large quantity at once and keep it warm in a thermos. It’s also important to regularly describe your coffee machine or water heater. After all, a poorly maintained machine uses more energy. It may seem like just a small cup of coffee, but it can save you energy and money in the long run. 7. Use a shower timer Too often, going to the office also means having to rush: take a shower, have breakfast, and go to work. If you work from home, you can start the day in a completely different way: sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast and maybe even take a longer shower. However, you use a lot of gas, electricity or oil to heat the water (depending on your heating system). Therefore, use a shower timer to reduce the duration of your shower.

A 'nine to five' work schedule is relatively specific: you start and end your day at a certain time. You won't be immune to various distractions if you work from home regularly. How can you manage your time and stay focused? 1. Preparation Determine in advance what your work will look like: Do you receive clients? Do you need a lot of space or specific equipment? These answers will determine where you will set up your office and how big it will be. Each profession has its specificities and the workspace of a masseur will not be the same as that of an architect or a writer, for example. 2. Work to a precise timing No traffic jams for more efficiency? Not necessarily. Your coffee machine or household chores will constantly attract your attention. Set up a specific work schedule that is in line with those of the people who live with you. 3. Create your own workplace Working at your dining table is not a good idea. You need to take care of your own workplace. If you live in a large house, you will arrange one room as an office space. In a small apartment or loft, you create a separate corner for working. You will leave your work tools there and organize everything functionally. 4. Opt for efficiency While conviviality is at the top of the list when furnishing a home, this is not the case when working at your desk. Practical storage and sufficient light are essential. 5. Invest in a houseplant A sufficiently green home has only advantages: plants ensure better air purification, promote concentration, and reduce stress. Water them at a fixed time, this will create an additional ritual in your work schedule. 6. Color in the house Did you know that colors greatly influence your mood and performance at work? Green enhances creativity, red increases concentration, and blue has a calming effect. We leave the choice to you. 7. Good light Natural light is a plus. Place your desk near the window and invest in a good desk lamp! Make sure it provides enough light to your workspace without blinding you. 8. Ideal working position A good office chair is essential. Working while sitting requires quality support for your back. Do you prefer to work standing? Choose a height-adjustable desk for your home office. 9. Company Kitchen There is nothing more important than the coffee break. Make sure you have a quality machine at home. After an intense phone call, there is nothing like sipping a good cup of coffee. 10. Distractions? In moderation Soft music is ideal for a working atmosphere. Don't overdo it with the volume to stay focused. Listen to the radio, a CD, or Spotify? You do what you want and won't have to worry about what your colleagues think.

For some of us, working remotely or independently is the ideal lifestyle. What a joy to be able to freely choose where you turn on your laptop and start working. It is even possible to work abroad. According to a survey by the company 'Remote', here are the 10 best cities to work as a digital nomad. As long as there is wifi Those who choose (or are lucky enough) to (be able to) work remotely are spoiled for choice. Whether from your living room, the local café, a trendy coworking space, or an exotic destination, the possibilities are many and varied. You can work anywhere, as long as the wifi works. Note: If you wish to work from abroad as a teleworker, you must obtain explicit authorization from your employer. Only then will you be able to work remotely with complete peace of mind and will you be immediately in compliance, particularly about the payment of your social security contributions and your insurance against work accidents. The 10 most attractive cities for digital nomads As incredible as Belgium is, having a foreign metropolis as your base camp isn't bad either. Having trouble choosing from the 4 corners of the world? The list compiled by the HR services companyRemotemight inspire you. The company analyzed several international destinations based on factors such as quality of life, internet infrastructure, safety, inflation and cost of living, transportation options, and availability of a digital nomad visa (temporary residence permit), etc. Here then, according to Remote, are the 10 international cities most suited to remote working. Madrid (Spain) Madeira (Portugal) Toronto (Canada) Auckland (New Zealand) Tokyo (Japan) Paris (France) Portland (United States) Taipei (Taiwan) Stockholm (Sweden) Reykjavik (Iceland) And Belgium? Unfortunately, no Belgian city makes it into the top 10. This does not mean that Belgium is not a good place to work. Brussels, for example, scores quite well in terms of quality of life and safety, with a 71st place.

“If you constantly check how many times a person touches their keyboard, you will eventually be replaced by control algorithms” (Koen Blanquart, author and digital nomad). Working from home is back. It never completely disappeared. For digital nomads—who work all over the world—working independently from a fixed location is a daily occurrence. “When I was in Mexico, I would go scuba diving in the morning and be up and running with my team in New York by late morning.” “Please don’t ask me where I live,” reads the first chapter of the book by Koen Blanquart, a management consultant and entrepreneur. He is often on the road, with New York as his home base. In his book, he explains how you, as an employer and employee, can make a difference in your workplace, especially in terms of people and processes. 1. Mindset: Transnational Koen Blanquart also mentions the transnational company, namely an organization that can operate across borders. "A company that can operate independently of time and a fixed workplace is flexible enough to operate in a global world," he believes. "Such an organization can be implemented in New York, Belgium or Kazakhstan without practically changing its structure or way of working. He takes the example of the Belgian start-up Datacamp, which has already provided technology courses to more than six million professionals around the world. 2. Trust: No micromanagement Koen Blanquart says that as a consultant, he was fortunate to meet clients who embraced his way of working. “They agreed that I could play a strategic role in their organization, even if I wasn’t in the office every day or every week. They are visionary business leaders who allowed me to work remotely.” Trust and goals are paramount. “Micromanagement is a thing of the past. If you constantly monitor how many times a person touches their keyboard, you will eventually be replaced by control algorithms. Such measurement methods are detrimental to knowledge workers. Imagine if software developers were paid per line of code instead of per goal achieved…” 3. Time management: asynchronous During the coronavirus, another way of working has taken off: asynchronous working, meaning that you no longer have to be limited by your working days in the office. To compare with cultural professions: a symphony orchestra works synchronously. For example, a violinist cannot decide to work from home on a concert evening. In contrast, the film editor, who gathers the contributions of others, can work perfectly asynchronously and - whenever he wants. "The manager of the future is more of a contact person or a diplomat who supervises partially autonomous workers. 4. Balance: Stop in time Routines help employees work independently of a fixed location. “Plan your day, do the most important tasks first, and consciously take breaks, ” he recommends. After all, in a transnational environment, you will always find someone working. “My phone doesn’t sleep next to me. As soon as you close the door to your office, or whatever space you use as your workplace, your workday is over. People who work remotely and manage to separate work and private life will therefore be happier and more productive.

No more colleagues to grab a coffee with, office mates to give you a helping hand when things aren’t going as planned, or managers running from one meeting to the next. Are you gradually sinking into loneliness because of working from home? With the 6 tips below, you can take matters into your own hands and exist again! 1. Schedule walking sessions with a colleague Do you have colleagues who live near you? Ask them if they would like to go for a daily walk with you. Sure, it’s a little less spontaneous than a casual conversation at the coffee machine, but you’ll have the opportunity to exchange advice or escape from your work. 2. Organize a virtual coffee break When you’re feeling lonely at home, it’s important to know that you’re still part of a whole, team. Including a digital coffee break, every day can help you stay connected with your colleagues. Plus, it’s a great time to unwind! 3. Turn on the radio during the day This of course does not apply if you prefer to work in silence, but many people work with background noise. Focusing excessively on your work without any kind of distraction does not always benefit performance. A small interruption often provides new ideas. Now that conversations with colleagues are gone, a discussion that enters your workplace via the radio can help you think creatively. 4. Collaborate virtually The loss of social interaction is a major burden of working from home. Suddenly, you have to organize your schedule and start your workdays yourself when you are used to following the rhythm of office hours. Solve this problem by working together virtually. Agree with your colleagues to leave your webcams on during the day to take advantage of the stimulating power of group dynamics. 5. Start a random conversation We are living in special times that influence our way of being in our daily lives. Talk to someone you haven't seen for a long time via the channel of your choice and ask how he/she is doing. Before you know it, you will be involved in a pleasant conversation where you will reminisce and escape from your daily routine. 6. Watch an episode of Friends during your lunch break Look'Friends', it's like meeting friends. You meet in a bar, know the characters by heart and they make you laugh. What more could you ask for?

Many Belgians are working from home these days. How do you do it and how do you ensure a good balance between teleworking and family life? "Let yourself be inspired by our tips on how to organize your work from home and set up your workplace properly. This way, you can be sure of having a pleasant working day", says Lode Godderis, Director of Knowledge, Information and Research at IDEWE. 1. Maintain your routine Set your alarm clock early, get out of bed, take a shower, and get dressed. Eat a hearty breakfast before you start your workday. 2. Head to your home workplace Say goodbye to your spouse and head to your home office. Start your workday. Choose a location out of sight of your family members. 3. Work-life balance Finding a good work-life balance is not always easy, especially with children at home. Some suggestions: Agree with your partner who will look after the children and at what time. Agree with your supervisor on a flexible arrangement where you can organize to look after your children, for example by continuing to work after they have gone to bed. 4. Take your breaks and lunches with your colleagues Social contact with your colleagues remains important. Organize 'online' lunches and plan regular coffee breaks with them. End the day together, with a moment of relaxation. For example, create a playlist with 5 songs and end the day dancing or singing. 5. Share your joys and sorrows Especially when you had a good time or did something smart. Share it during the online meeting or via (professional) social media. Also, take time to decompress with your colleagues. 6. Finish your day and go home Be clear with your colleagues and employer about your accessibility and availability. Finish your workday, go home, greet your spouse and children, and share with them what you experienced during the day. 7. Get in touch with sunlight Daylight stimulates the production of serotonin, a substance in the brain that plays a role in regulating our mood. More serotonin in the brain improves mood and satisfaction. A 'light bath' will also help you concentrate better. 8. Create your workplace Unfortunately, this home workplace is not always as well equipped as in the office. This is especially true for those who work sporadically or for the first time from home. Therefore, here are some valuable tips... 8 | 1. Adjust your office chair correctly A good office chair that you can adjust to your individual needs is not an unnecessary luxury. And of course, you have to adjust it correctly. An IDEWE survey shows that 7 out of 10 office workers do not know how to do this. Here's what you need to do: Sit deeply in your chair and place your feet flat on the floor. Your pelvis should be slightly higher than your knees, with your thighs slightly tilted. If your table is not adjustable and is too high, raise your chair a little higher and use a bench to rest your feet. There should be an initial space between your chair and the back of your knees. The hollow of your lower back should be supported by the backrest, so it's best to have the support of your office chair at the bottom. 8 | 2. Opt for a separate monitor, mouse, and keyboard Use a laptop docking station and an external keyboard and mouse. Ideally, work on a large enough screen (19”). If you are using a laptop, opt for a separate keyboard and an external mouse that fits comfortably in your hand and is located next to your keyboard. By the way, your keyboard should be about 10-15 cm from the edge of your table. You will correctly position your screen as follows: Place your screen directly in front of you. The top edge of your screen should be at eye level. Your screen should be an arm's length away from your head. 8 | 3. An adjustable document holder is recommended Do you still work a lot with paper documents? If so, it is best to use a document holder that you place between your screen and your keyboard. This will allow your neck to move in one way only, namely from the keys of your keyboard to your documents and your screen. 8 | 4. A mix of sitting, standing, and moving work Alternating between sitting and standing can prevent many physical problems. Working from home is ideal for varying your working postures. For example, make a phone call while walking in the garden. Work standing for a while with your work surface at elbow height. Finally, don't forget to walk around regularly to recharge your batteries and stimulate your blood circulation.

Working from home has always been a dream for many people. Until it suddenly became mandatory for almost the entire workforce. What used to seem like a luxury feature is now a major challenge for many workers. Especially when they have to simultaneously care for children who demand attention and entertainment. Several handy tools make it easier to collaborate remotely with your colleagues. People who work from home often claim to get a high volume of work done, partly because they are not distracted by the noise of their colleagues nearby. On the other hand, home workers do not find it easy to be creative or collaborate with their remote colleagues. They claim to lack the tools to do so. Rest assured, there are many digital platforms to help them. Professional video calls To communicate 'face to face' or make professional video calls with several members of your team, you can use Google Hangouts, Skype, Zoom or Microsoft Teams. These programs offer more options than popular instant messaging services such as WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Facebook Messenger. Very useful: Skype has a feature that blurs the background while you're on video calls. The clothes rack or mountain of toys behind you are instantly blurred when you're chatting with your boss. Practical Collaboration Programs Other useful collaboration tools are Slack, Podio, and Miro. Slack allows you to chat with colleagues, share files, and track business process updates. Podio is a similar tool that allows teams to work together in sync. Finally, Miro is more like a large digital whiteboard on which you can brainstorm together, develop strategies, determine workflows,... Trello and Basecamp also deserve a spot on this list. These are project management tools that are not only useful if you work remotely but also reduce your email traffic. With this software, you don’t have to constantly send certain tasks or files via email. Computer problem Are you not very tech-savvy and sometimes have to call on your office IT department? What if you work from home? TeamViewer is a very handy troubleshooting tool and allows your IT manager to control your screen remotely. This will save you time and avoid unnecessary stress in the event of a computer problem. Flexible working hours Unfortunately, being armed with handy tools isn’t enough to be able to collaborate effectively with your colleagues. Timing is also important. Maybe you start working early in the morning to enjoy some peace at home in the evening? Or do you prefer to work in the evening after your kids have gone to bed? Just keep in mind that you can’t schedule video calls at 6:30 a.m. or 8:30 p.m.

Less travel, a more flexible schedule, and more space for household chores. Working from home has its advantages, but also some disadvantages. For example, almost one in two Belgians regrets the lack of contact with colleagues when working from home. 22% of them even feel isolated. Many companies are facing a 'battle' between the proponents and opponents of remote working, with 35% of employees reporting that they have little or no knowledge of the applicable policy on working from home. Telework policy Good agreements make good friends or, in this case, good colleagues. Clear communication and a concrete policy on working from home are essential in the post-COVID era. And yet, 21% of Belgian employees say they have only made an informal agreement on working from home with their employer. 35% would not even know that such a policy exists. This is unfortunate because a good policy usually comes with additional benefits, including financial compensation for setting up a home office, for example. Your place in the sun 54% of respondents have everything they need for their home office: from an additional screen to an ergonomic office chair. Such a personally designed space is important because it is becoming increasingly rare in the office. The clean desk policy or clean desk requires employees to put away their belongings every evening so that another colleague can move in the next day. In some cases, the company has even created a desk reservation system. This is convenient for the employer, who now has an overview of who is working where and when, but employees do not necessarily find it to their advantage. Indeed, it is important for team cohesion to all work together in the office for at least one or two days a week. A task that can be difficult if there are more employees than desks… Physical meetings Offices and open spaces have been abandoned in favor of many breakout rooms, pods or phone booths, collaboration, and meeting spaces. As a result, the demand for collaboration spaces has increased significantly. 60% of respondents said they see the value in meetings. This is a stark contrast to July 2022 when 85% of respondents said they regularly have to attend unnecessary meetings. Nowadays, 47% of respondents would like to go to the office more often if it meant interacting more with their colleagues. It appears that women and young employees particularly need physical encounters, even if they take place in the context of boring meetings. Besides human connections, there's a second reason why many workers enjoy being in the office: 31% of them find it a quieter place to work than their home. Duel 29% of respondents believe that sharing information with colleagues at home is more difficult and 20% associate teleworking with an increase in workload. Finally, and perhaps most strikingly, 37% of respondents believe that working alone and remotely can hurt professional and personal development. And yet, many Belgians would like to work more from home. Four out of ten would be willing to accept an extra day of teleworking. French-speaking employees particularly like to spend time in the comfort of a home office: 43% of them would like to work more from home. That is 7% more than their Dutch-speaking counterparts. In terms of age, 34-55-year-olds are the most in-demand while working from home is the least popular among those over 55s. A tough duel but, if everyone is making concessions - or putting some water in their wine - a well-crafted home working policy is invaluable.