Teleworking concerned 26% of employees in France in 2023, according to a recent study by Dares, the statistical institute of the Ministry of Labor. The typical profile of the modern teleworker is an executive (61%), with a slight over-representation of women (51%). Considered less intense (in the absence of travel) and promoting autonomy, remote working convinces its fans since 44% of teleworkers would like to do more. But it still needs to be practiced in good conditions, to avoid certain inconveniences. Here are some golden rules to follow.
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1/A top-notch installation
Whether you telework occasionally or regularly, it is imperative to set up a real space dedicated to your professional activity at home. And if that’s not possible, it’s better to opt for a coworking space! A desk wide enough to accommodate a fixed monitor and separate keyboard in addition to your laptop is necessary to protect your eyes. You must in fact stay 70 cm from the screen. Likewise, an office chair will be gentle on your body, whereas a wooden kitchen seat will quickly become unbearable. Finally, it is important to take a short break (5 or 10 minutes) every hour to release tension and stretch your legs.
2/A real professional routine
Aside from the journey, your professional routine should be the same whether you are teleworking or at work. No question of staying in your pajamas, settling on the sofa or saving money on daycare by watching your toddler while trying to work! All these pitfalls will certainly lead to demotivation, delay and psychological exhaustion.
On the contrary, we get dressed, we respect our working hours by avoiding unproductive empty days, we use a list of the day’s tasks to follow our schedule and we don’t forget to give ourselves a real lunch break to get some fresh air. And be careful: when the working day is over, it’s really over! Turn off your computer and take some time to relax before joining your loved ones.
3/Avoid distractions
And one open space business goes hand in hand with requests, the risk is increased tenfold in teleworking because the personal is added to the professional! To avoid any encroachment on your personal life, you put your smartphone on silent or, the leastwe deactivate notifications from social networks which could distract us all day. Do you need background noise? Focus on music rather than distracting television.
Also pay attention to the multiple messages in your company’s internal chat. Although they help maintain relational ties, they quickly become time-consuming and exhausting.
4/Preserve quality links
The number 1 risk in teleworking is isolation. It is therefore important to maintain relationships within your team, without going overboard. Small, regular videoconference meetings allow, for example, the opportunity to discuss current projects and have a real, quality conversation. If necessary, do not hesitate to call a colleague (during their working hours of course) rather than speaking to them by chat: it will be faster and more efficient. And because nothing beats the presence of others, meet regularly with your team inside or outside the company to stay united and connected. It is also to preserve social bonds that many favor hybrid work, alternating teleworking and face-to-face.
