'It's comfortable and cosy': why working from bed is key to this agent's success
A travel agency owner has called for more compassion for homeworkers, arguing that she manages her company more efficiently from her house – and indeed her bed – than she ever could from an office.
Paula Hansen runs World Accessible Holidays, which specialises in travel for disabled clients, entirely from her home in Wales. Like many agents, she believes a remote model enables her to maintain a healthier work-life balance and be overall more productive.
But for Hansen, homeworking isn't just a perk – it's a necessity.
The mother-of-one lives with fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder that causes pain in muscles and soft tissues all over the body. Other symptoms include fatigue, brain fog and sleep disturbances, all of which can significantly affect the individual's ability to work – and makes working from an office almost impossible.
In 2023, 136,000 claimants of PIP (Personal Independence Payment) listed fibromyalgia as their main disabling condition. Many people in employment may also require additional sick leave and/or reduced hours, due to the severe and often volatile nature of their symptoms.
But Hansen is determined not to let her fibromyalgia limit her potential as a business woman. Three years on from her diagnosis, she has developed a sturdy kit of tools for maintaining her productivity – including working from bed.
'Why shouldn't you work from bed?' Hansen tells TTG Luxury. 'It's comfortable and cosy, and you're probably working more effectively because you're relaxed.'
The self-proclaimed 'bedpreneur' says that working from bed is also preferable to a desk, which tends to flare up her symptoms: 'All of the pain from my fibromyalgia is from the hips upwards, so my back will hurt if I'm sitting on a chair for too long.'
Hansen's work hours are also atypical, beginning at around 10am and ending at nearly midnight. 'My pain levels are highest in the morning, so I'll do some hours after 10am, and then if I'm tired, I'll go and have a sleep, and then resume work when I wake up,' she explains.
'So it is more like a nine to 11 schedule, with lots of sleep breaks in between.' She also uses meditation and ice packs, along with painkillers when necessary, to further alleviate her symptoms.
'Why shouldn't you work from bed? It's comfortable and cosy'
As well as helping her to manage pain more effectively, working from home has also been hugely beneficial for Hansen's concentration.
Without the usual office disruptions, she says she can focus for longer and thus, complete tasks faster. This lack of distractions can be especially valuable for people with fibromyalgia, 80% of whom will experience issues with memory and attention.
While Hansen's condition has undoubtedly made work more challenging, it has also instilled in her a great deal of empathy for her clients.
The Cardiff native knows all too well the obstacles of travelling with mobility issues; as well as causing extreme tiredness, her fibromyalgia prevents her from sitting in one position for extended periods of time, which makes driving and flying particularly difficult.
Hansen also has a teenage son with cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that causes muscle weakness and impaired mobility. While Evan can walk short distances, he requires a wheelchair and is unable to travel without assistance. Flying can be especially 'nightmarish', says Hansen, due to the lack of consideration from other passengers boarding the plane.
It's this first-hand experience of disability that has given her the determination to continue advocating for disabled travellers – even when she's in severe pain.
Hansen arranges all types of trips for her clients, from city breaks and beach holidays to safaris and honeymoons. To achieve this, she partners with specialist suppliers who can provide medical equipment, adapted transport and accessible accommodation.
The disability of her customers varies, but each one has a dream of travelling without barriers. For many, it's their first holiday after a serious illness or accident. The additional requirements create extra work for Hansen, but having witnessed the life-changing power of travel for individuals with disabilities, she says 'it's all worthwhile'.
'When you have a client tell you they've gotten into the sea for the first time because you've recommended a hotel with a sea track, that is much better than just someone saying, 'I've had a great holiday,'' she explains. 'It's so rewarding.'
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