Working from home: simple tips for a more productive and pleasant workplace

Working from home still sounds ideal on paper. No traffic jams, no one looking over your shoulder, and you can finally start your day calmly with a cup of coffee. In practice, maintaining that balance proves a bit trickier. Before you know it, you're quickly tapping out an email in the evening or thinking about that deadline while cooking.

This guide isn't trying to impose rules, but rather to help you regain some control over your day. Small adjustments, like a fixed start time or a proper screen-free break, can make a surprising difference to your concentration. And sometimes it just helps to consciously do something different, like a short walk or some fresh air. This way, working from home remains something that fits into your life, instead of consuming your entire day.

Variety and movement

Sitting still for long periods is one of the biggest pitfalls of working from home. Research from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) shows that by 2025, the average home worker will be sitting for over 9 hours a day – an increase of 40 minutes compared to 2024. Short periods of movement are therefore crucial. Get up every hour, take a walk, or do a few stretches. Companies like Jooble even advise their employees to stand or walk occasionally during online meetings.

Smart use of technology

Do you work with a lot of documents? Then cloud storage is often your best savior. Or better yet, a secure collaborative environment where you always have access to your files, even if you're working on your laptop in a coffee shop. Sounds relaxing, right? Yet, distractions lurk; a constantly ringing phone or a colleague constantly texting can completely destroy your focus.

Working from home, well, it's much smoother these days thanks to all those digital tools. Teams, Zoom, and other platforms are as common as coffee with breakfast. But the real change isn't the number of apps, but how smartly you use them. There are programs that make everything clear, remind you of deadlines and focus points for your plans, so you can at least get something done at the end of the day.

Maintaining social connection

Working from home also has a downside: social contact with colleagues decreases. Statistics from Statistics Netherlands (spring 2025) show that 42 percent of people working from home sometimes feel lonely during the workweek. That's why it's important to stay connected. Schedule virtual coffee breaks or visit the office once a week for a meeting.

In this context, we even see job openings for voiceover jobs appearing on platforms like Jooble, where home workers can find temporary or creative assignments that combine social interaction with flexibility.

Focus and setting boundaries

A major advantage of working from home is the autonomy, but that also requires discipline. Setting boundaries means not only taking breaks but also having the courage to say "no" to overtime. Turn off notifications after work and create fixed times when you're available.

A simple method is the so-called 50/10 rule: 50 minutes of focused work, followed by a 10-minute break. This keeps your energy level stable. It also helps to briefly write down at the end of the day what went well and what should be a priority for the next day.

Mental health and balance

Working from home requires not only discipline but also mental resilience. When work and personal life take place under one roof, the lines between exertion and relaxation blur. This causes a growing number of Dutch people to experience mental pressure. According to figures from Statistics Netherlands (Spring 2025), 37 percent of people working from home report regularly experiencing stress due to a lack of structure or distractions at home.

Those who work from home long-term can also benefit from creating a personal work zone dedicated solely to work. Only place items there that are functional or inspiring. This could be a plant, a calming photo, or a notebook. Consciously organizing the environment creates a clear distinction between work time and personal time.

The role of Jooble and new forms of work

The modern job market is changing rapidly, and platforms like Jooble are playing an increasingly important role in this. Not only permanent jobs, but also temporary and flexible assignments are increasingly being found through such platforms. A growing number of Dutch people are combining part-time work with a freelance work-from-home role. According to Jooble, the number of work-from-home vacancies grew by over 11 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2024.

A good example of this are CDD analyst vacancies , where professionals work from home to review files, analyze client data, and assess financial risks. Such roles require concentration and reliability, but also offer the opportunity to perform in a workspace.

Building healthy habits

Besides a good work structure, daily habits are crucial for well-being. Drink plenty of water, limit your afternoon coffee intake, and eat regular meals. Research from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) in 2025 shows that employees who maintain regular mealtimes feel up to 18 percent more alert during work hours.

Sleep is also important. A well-rested brain works faster and more accurately. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep per night and avoid screen time right before bed. If you have trouble disconnecting from work, you can do relaxing activities in the evening: read a book, listen to soothing music, or take a walk.

A future of hybrid working

While working entirely from home remains popular, many companies will opt for a hybrid model by 2025. Employees will work partly from home and partly in the office. This offers the best of both worlds: concentration and peace at home, social interaction and collaboration in the office.

Employers also see that hybrid working leads to lower absenteeism and higher job satisfaction. For example, according to TNO, the number of burnout reports among hybrid workers decreased by 8 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year. At the same time, employers continue to find it necessary to provide guidelines regarding availability, workload, and ergonomics.