Estate Living Magazine Issue 30 Smart Environments June 2018 | Page 34

IN THE ZONE
Most people who work in an
office from, say, nine to five,
spend between one and three
hours every day commuting.
That is time that could be
spent at the gym, strolling
on the beach, shopping, doing
chores, cooking delicious
meals, walking the dog, or
playing with the kids.
32 | www.estate-living.co.za
Commuting, along with the increasing cost of fuel, the
undeniable effect of carbon emissions and the acknowledged
dangers of extended periods of sitting, has made working from
home very desirable, and the decreasing cost of technology and
the development of Fibre to the Home (FTTH) has made it feasible.
While some employers are reluctant to let their staff out of their sight, most
recognise that people are much more productive when they can work within
their comfort zones – and that’s not just spatial. Let’s face it, no one who
spends eight hours in an office actually does a full eight hours of productive
work. It’s just not possible. And the time that is not productive is wasted –
daydreaming, dozing, taking smoke breaks, making tea, checking Facebook,
or just staring blankly at a screen with nothing happening in your brain.
People who work from home, on the other hand, use those ‘unproductive’
moments constructively because nothing improves mental concentration
more than a short burst of physical activity, and it doesn’t have to be intense.