The new normal: the impact of home office on our health
The COVID 19 pandemic has fundamentally changed our work lives. Many of us have been working from home for months without knowing when we will return to our offices. For some, working from home has been a valuable opportunity to spend more time with their families and save on their commute to work. However, others find it difficult to separate work and home life, which can lead to a constant workload.
But how much home office is actually good for us? How can we weigh the pros and cons of working from home? In this article, we will look at the effects of home office on our physical and mental health and provide some tips on how to work healthily and productively no matter where we are located.
Although working in a home office can offer many advantages, it can also have negative effects on our health. For example, it can be difficult to create a separation between work and personal life. Without a clear boundary, it can easily happen that we always feel available and can no longer switch off. In addition, the lack of social interaction can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
It’s important to understand the impact the home office has on us and how we can minimize these negative influences. In this article, we will discuss some strategies we can use to work healthily and productively, whether we work from home or in the office.
The advantages and disadvantages of the home office
Working from a home office offers a variety of benefits. On the one hand, one saves time and costs for the journey to the workplace. Flexibility in work schedules is also a major benefit. For example, you can work productively outside of regular working hours, which gives you more free time.
Another positive side of the home office is the better compatibility of family and career. Parents in particular have the opportunity to take better care of their children and still pursue their careers. It is also easier to bridge periods of illness or quarantine.
Nevertheless, there are also some disadvantages of the home office. First, there is often a lack of direct contact with colleagues and superiors, which can lead to poorer communication. The lack of separation between work and home life can also lead to conflicts, such as when children play in the background and interfere with concentration.

Another aspect is the technical equipment. Often the home office is not as well equipped as the workspace in the office. The need for data protection can also be a challenge here.
- Pros:
- Time and cost savings
- Flexibility in work schedules
- Better compatibility of family and career
- Disadvantages:
- Have less direct contact with colleagues and supervisors
- Difficult to separate work and home life
- Technical equipment and data protection
All in all, it comes down to which advantages or disadvantages are most important to the individual. A balance of home office and face-to-face work can definitely help you work more effectively and feel comfortable at the same time.
How much home office is just right?
The New Normal has led to more and more companies allowing their employees to work from home. However, this begs the question: how much time should you spend in your home office?
For some people, the answer is obvious: They feel most comfortable when they spend the most time in the office. Others, however, prefer the flexibility of the home office and prefer to work from home.
However, there are some important factors to consider when figuring out how much time in the home office is optimal for you. For example, workload may differ from day to day, and you may be more productive some days than others.
Another important factor is work-life balance. When you work in a home office, it can be difficult to separate work from personal life. It is therefore important to make sure that you have enough time for yourself and can also spend time with your family and friends.
- Overall, the amount of home office time that works best for you depends on your individual needs and preferences.
- Some employees find the flexibility offered by the home office ideal for making the most of their work time and organizing their lives better.
- Others, however, prefer to interact with their colleagues in the office and find they are more productive when they are in the office.
How much home office is good for me?
The COVID 19 pandemic has shown us that home office is one way to get our work done from home. But how much home office is good for us? A healthy work-life balance is important to keep us physically and mentally healthy.
One way is to set work hours and stick to a healthy schedule. Take breaks to stretch, relax and exercise. It can also help to move your home office to a separate room to create a separation between work and personal time.
It’s also important to work ergonomically to avoid pain and injury. Make sure your workspace is well lit and your equipment, such as keyboard and mouse, are ergonomic. Also, avoid sitting for hours on end and get up to move around.
- Set work hours and stick to them.
- Take breaks to stretch and exercise.
- Create a separation between work and leisure by having a separate workspace.
- Work ergonomically to avoid pain and injury.
- Avoid sitting for hours and get up to move around.
By following these tips, you can maintain a healthy work-life balance and enjoy the benefits of the home office. Try out what works best for you personally and find the perfect work-life balance.
The importance of communication in the home office
With more working from home these days, it has become even more important to consider communication as a core aspect of professional life. Communication serves as a channel of communication for employers and employees and promotes a better understanding of each party’s needs.
The use of technology and video conferencing tools has helped improve home office communication in the recent past. Employers and employees can share projects, ideas and goals in real time, making them more productive. Clear and proper communication between parties helps the home office workplace function more effectively.

Communication is also critical to creating a positive work environment in the home office. Through regular sharing and feedback, employers and employees can make improvements to make working conditions as comfortable as possible. Open, honest communication can help prevent conflict and increase understanding of work requirements.
- To ensure effective communication in the home office, consider the following points:
- Clear communication: expectations should be clearly communicated and well defined.
- Regular sharing: regular meetings and feedback sessions can help resolve issues and concerns quickly.
- Use of technology: the right tool can improve the efficiency of communication.
- Open communication: trust can be built through open and honest communication.
The new normal: home office and the separation of work and personal life
The last few months have shown us that home office has become an important and necessary tool to continue to be productive even in difficult times. But how much home office is actually good for us? An important question we should all ask ourselves.
A major problem that many people experience in the home office is the inability to separate work and personal life. When the study suddenly becomes the living room and vice versa, the lines between work and personal life blur and it becomes hard to switch off.
To minimize this problem, it is important to set clear boundaries. This can mean, for example, establishing certain rituals to start and end the workday. Similarly, it can be helpful to define a specific workspace that is used exclusively for work.
- Make sure you clean up your workspace regularly and set it up to help you stay focused.
- Take time for breaks and try to be intentional about them. For example, take a walk or do a short meditation to switch off.
- Make sure you keep your working hours and don’t be tempted to work around the clock.
Ultimately, it’s important that you figure out which work environment works best for you. For some people, this means going to the office every day, while others can work best from home. By finding the right work-life balance, you’ll be more productive, happier and healthier.