Well-being in remote work | 6 tips to preserve it

How to preserve well-being in remote work?

Do you want to know how to ensure well-being in remote work? According to a study by Malakoff Humanis in 2021, nearly 86% of French people are satisfied with remote work due to time savings and reduced fatigue related to commuting. However, remote work can sometimes pose risks to the health of remote workers in the long term. That’s why this article provides key tips to maintain balance in remote work, along with the challenge for companies to preserve the well-being of their employees at a distance.

Tip #1 - Set up a real workspace

Remote work can quickly blur the boundary between private and professional spheres. You may soon feel like you don’t belong anywhere. To avoid this, prefer to set up a desk in another room. A calm and organized environment reduces unnecessary distractions and enhances your concentration.

If you don’t have other rooms available, completely tidy up your things once the day is over. This way, you will feel like you are leaving work as soon as you leave that space. The boundary between your private life and your professional life will be respected.

Tip #2 - Create an ergonomic workspace

Remote work means sedentary behavior. Working from home full-time often means you are sitting all day, which increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. According to a study by Santé Publique France, 9% of full-time remote workers reported lower back pain compared to only 5% for hybrid remote workers after the start of the 3rd lockdown. To reduce risks, avoid working on the couch or at your kitchen table and prefer a ergonomic office chair. Also, ensure that your computer screen is at eye level.

💡Tip: do some stretching every hour to prevent pain and maintain good physical comfort in the long term.

Tip #3 - Adopt good time management

Unlike in-person work, which sets the rhythm of the day (lunch break, start, end…), remote work does not have a framework to respect. To avoid overflow, it is important to set your own limits and hours to properly structure your days.

💡Good to know: according to the 9th OPE barometer of 2017, nearly 51% of executives are tempted to check their work emails outside of working hours.

To do this, you can try the time blocking method, which involves blocking specific time slots for each task. You define a time to start and a time to finish.

Let’s illustrate this method with a concrete example:
Jean is an IT consultant working remotely full-time, and like many, he is tempted to check his email at any time to see if a technical issue has been reported by his team.

To structure his day, he decided to dedicate the first hours of the day to complex tasks, then a time slot in the afternoon to handle his emails.

With this type of organization, you work in a more targeted and controlled manner while maintaining a good rhythm. Also, consider keeping a planner to schedule your tasks and add reminders.

If you are working remotely under wage portage, check out our guide on wage portage and time management.

Tip #4 - Take breaks

Like any activity (whether physical or intellectual), breaks help to improve your efficiency and your concentration.

💡Good to know: our average concentration span is about 90 minutes and starts to decrease after just 25 minutes.

Thus, taking short breaks just to have tea or coffee ensures better productivity. You can also take relaxation breaks such as deep breathing sessions to cultivate your mental well-being. Avoid eating in front of your computer during lunch breaks and prefer to take a real long break.

Tip #5 - Engage in physical activity

As mentioned earlier, remote work is synonymous with sedentary behavior. The absence of commuting and moving from room to room means you move much less than in-person. Therefore, make sure to engage in regular physical activity from home to improve your quality of life. This can include:

• Weekly challenges;
• Online group sports classes;
• Sports support provided by your employer…

💡Good to know: some 100% digital clinics offer support to remote workers from health professionals. Depending on the theme chosen by your company, you will have free access to psychologists, physiotherapists, sports doctors… Check with your employer to learn more.

Tip #6 - Maintain proactive communication

With remote work, gone are the coffee breaks, meetings, or informal discussions with your colleagues, leading to a significant reduction in social interactions and a loss of team spirit.

💡Good to know: according to a survey on the subject, nearly 65% of remote workers would be victims of social isolation.

To avoid this, it is important to maintain proactive communication with your manager by asking questions regularly and participating in virtual meetings. Here are some suggestions to maintain the connection with your colleagues at a distance:

• Participate in discussion groups;
• Take part in team activities (remote games…);
• Join virtual coffee breaks…

This way, you create moments of exchange and relaxation with other members of your company, which fosters team cohesion.

Bonus: the challenge for companies to preserve the well-being of their employees at a distance

The essentials of the article summarized in 7 points

You now have a complete overview of the tips to apply to promote well-being in remote work. Here are the key points to remember:

1. Set up a workspace in a dedicated room for your activity to respect the boundary with your private life.
2. Prefer an ergonomic workspace to avoid muscle pain and preserve your physical health.
3. Think about controlling your working time by setting limits and time slots for each task to avoid overflow.
4. Plan short breaks to reduce fatigue and maintain your level of concentration.
5. Engage in regular physical activity through online sports programs to limit risks related to sedentary behavior.
6. Maintain regular communication with your manager and colleagues through weekly remote meetings or virtual coffee breaks to foster team cohesion.
7. On the company side, ensure to respect the right to disconnect and remain attentive to the needs of your remote employees through regular surveys or personalized support.

If you are interested in the overall topic of well-being at work, deepen your reflection and consult our guide on the hardship premium.