Latest news with #homeworking
TTG
13-06-2025
- Health
- TTG
‘It's comfortable and cosy': why working from bed is key to this agent's success
by Emma Dooney 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.' Previous Article P&O Cruises unveils new ship visit programme with 650 agent places available Next Article Finalists revealed for TTG Travel Industry Awards 2025
TTG
13-06-2025
- Health
- TTG
'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.'
Travel Daily News
09-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Not Just Travel expands BDM team with Chris Winpenny
Not Just Travel appoints Chris Winpenny as Business Development Manager to enhance support for its expanding network of UK homeworking travel consultants. Not Just Travel has announced the appointment of travel industry veteran Chris Winpenny to its Business Development Manager team, further strengthening the support network for its growing community of homeworking consultants. Chris Winpenny brings over 17 years of travel sector experience to the role, including eight years at luxury operator Kuoni where he held multiple positions spanning store management, virtual call centre operations, retail marketing, events coordination and mentoring. Beginning his career at First Choice, Winpenny has cultivated extensive supplier relationships across the industry that will prove invaluable in his new position supporting Not Just Travel's consultant network. 'Chris's strategic appointment demonstrates our continued investment in providing award-winning support and mentorship to our travel consultant community,' said Steve Witt, Co-founder of Not Just Travel. 'His energy and enthusiasm for business development, goal-setting and strategic planning makes him a valuable recruiting catch for our team. Chris's experience in creating and hosting bespoke events is a true asset, and his track record of nurturing talent aligns perfectly with our commitment to helping our consultants achieve their full potential.' Winpenny expressed excitement about joining the forward-thinking homeworking group: 'I'm looking forward to helping the travel consultants thrive and flourish in their businesses. Paul Harrison and Steve Witt are co-founders who are future-focused. They don't wait around for the next travel trend, but use technology and networks to drive the business forward in pioneering ways. Not Just Travel is among the most advanced companies I've seen.' The appointment comes as the company continues to expand its presence in the UK homeworking sector, with the company reporting strong recruitment and sales growth in recent months.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
As an influencer, I invited followers into my life. Then a disturbing incident made me stop
When I started 'Meet You at the Barre', my online barre and strength platform, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I didn't have a microphone or a tripod. It was lockdown and I was home-schooling four children with a husband working full time. What I did have, however, was a gut feeling that midlife women deserved something better than the typical, punishment-heavy fitness content we're constantly bombarded with. I was 42 years old, I'd just completed a course that qualified me to teach barre, a form of exercise using the ballet barre, and I kept thinking: what if I could build something that actually works for women like me? What I didn't realise, though, when my classes were picked up in an article about the best lockdown workouts and I started to get hundreds of people joining my workouts, is that an online business is a double-edged sword. Success is rooted in you – your voice, your home, your energy – and when you're growing an account, particularly in the early days, you feel pressure to share more and more of your life. Instagram is a beast that constantly needs feeding. At first, I tried to meet that pressure. There's something uniquely complicated about being a woman on social media – especially when you're trying to be 'relatable'. People start to feel like they know you. And in many ways, that's the point. I built my platform on honesty, warmth and realness – I didn't want some perfectly curated, robot-fitness influencer vibe. But sometimes, people confuse access with intimacy. And that's when things get uncomfortable. I've had people message to let me know they think I've gained weight. How generous. Others have told me they don't like my outfit or that I'm looking tired. Shrugging off these kinds of remarks gets easier with time. But then there are the comments that make you pause. Such as the woman who messaged to say she'd spotted a logo on my child's school jumper and now knew where they go to school. Or the woman who recognised the hotel I was staying in from a photo and messaged, 'I live nearby – want to meet for a drink?' It was meant kindly, I'm sure. But it made me realise that by simply living my life online, I'd inadvertently given away more than I had intended. I feel for Alexandra Saper, the Instagram blogger who was followed to Bali by a British man with a rope in his suitcase. He'd been harassing her for almost a year with emails and video messages: 'You're never getting rid of me,' he told her. I've never experienced anything serious, thank goodness, but I've had to block people – especially men. When I was doing live workouts during lockdown, there was one guy, Charles, who showed up to every class with ridiculous comments. Thankfully, my followers had a great time taking the mickey out of him, but still – it was draining. And some men are persistent. They'll make a second or third account to keep watching you. That said, I think the majority of them steer clear – probably because what I do is clearly not aimed at them. The only time I've ever pulled down a reel was a few years ago. It was a funny, chaotic snapshot of surviving the summer holidays with four young kids. I showed more of my personal life in that video than usual – my house, my children, the reality of daily life. Most people laughed and related, but a few came at me hard with judgments about my parenting, my privilege, even the layout of my kitchen. People are, of course, entitled to their opinions – but if you don't like what you're seeing, there's an unfollow button. I wish they wouldn't use their keyboards like a weapon. That said, the community I've built gives me a great amount of joy. Today, I have more than 1,000 monthly members worldwide, almost 30,000 Instagram followers and a brilliant, loyal community of midlife women who want to move for joy, not my dog ran away, one woman – a follower with a tracker dog – drove three counties to help me find him. I still can't believe that happened. And the number of DMs I get from people checking in when I've gone quiet for a few days – it's astonishing and humbling. Over time, I've made conscious changes, though. I don't share where I am until I've left. My teenagers want nothing to do with my feed – which is fair. And I'm a lot more careful now about what I show and whom I show. This isn't out of fear – I'm not hiding behind the sofa – but it's awareness. You start noticing where the line is once someone's crossed it. I'm lucky I haven't experienced the full trolling storm that some of my peers deal with. But I've seen how comfortable people feel commenting on your face, your body, your choices – especially as a woman over 40. I haven't had any work done, but I've had messages comparing my face from old videos to now. Others slide in saying things such as, 'Your eyes look really puffy – are you OK?' It's framed as concern, but it's invasive. There's this weird notion that once you've put yourself online, you've made yourself public property – and this idea seems to grow with your follower count. I have friends with much bigger accounts than mine who get relentlessly targeted. It's usually jealousy disguised as 'constructive feedback'. These are women doing creative, brave work – and getting penalised for daring to take up space. Still, there's no part of me that wants to walk away. I've built something I'm deeply proud of – not just a business but a space where women feel seen, supported and reminded that they matter in midlife. We move together. We laugh. We cheer each other on. It's not just about the workouts – it's about being allowed to take up space and to do it unapologetically. As told to Anna Tyzack Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
As an influencer, I invited followers into my life. Then a disturbing incident made me stop
When I started 'Meet You at the Barre', my online barre and strength platform, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I didn't have a microphone or a tripod. It was lockdown and I was home-schooling four children with a husband working full time. What I did have, however, was a gut feeling that midlife women deserved something better than the typical, punishment-heavy fitness content we're constantly bombarded with. I was 42 years old, I'd just completed a course that qualified me to teach barre, a form of exercise using the ballet barre, and I kept thinking: what if I could build something that actually works for women like me? What I didn't realise, though, when my classes were picked up in an article about the best lockdown workouts and I started to get hundreds of people joining my workouts, is that an online business is a double-edged sword. Success is rooted in you – your voice, your home, your energy – and when you're growing an account, particularly in the early days, you feel pressure to share more and more of your life. Instagram is a beast that constantly needs feeding. At first, I tried to meet that pressure. There's something uniquely complicated about being a woman on social media – especially when you're trying to be 'relatable'. People start to feel like they know you. And in many ways, that's the point. I built my platform on honesty, warmth and realness – I didn't want some perfectly curated, robot-fitness influencer vibe. But sometimes, people confuse access with intimacy. And that's when things get uncomfortable. I've had people message to let me know they think I've gained weight. How generous. Others have told me they don't like my outfit or that I'm looking tired. Shrugging off these kinds of remarks gets easier with time. But then there are the comments that make you pause. Such as the woman who messaged to say she'd spotted a logo on my child's school jumper and now knew where they go to school. Or the woman who recognised the hotel I was staying in from a photo and messaged, 'I live nearby – want to meet for a drink?' It was meant kindly, I'm sure. But it made me realise that by simply living my life online, I'd inadvertently given away more than I had intended. I feel for Alexandra Saper, the Instagram blogger who was followed to Bali by a British man with a rope in his suitcase. He'd been harassing her for almost a year with emails and video messages: 'You're never getting rid of me,' he told her. I've never experienced anything serious, thank goodness, but I've had to block people – especially men. When I was doing live workouts during lockdown, there was one guy, Charles, who showed up to every class with ridiculous comments. Thankfully, my followers had a great time taking the mickey out of him, but still – it was draining. And some men are persistent. They'll make a second or third account to keep watching you. That said, I think the majority of them steer clear – probably because what I do is clearly not aimed at them. The only time I've ever pulled down a reel was a few years ago. It was a funny, chaotic snapshot of surviving the summer holidays with four young kids. I showed more of my personal life in that video than usual – my house, my children, the reality of daily life. Most people laughed and related, but a few came at me hard with judgments about my parenting, my privilege, even the layout of my kitchen. People are, of course, entitled to their opinions – but if you don't like what you're seeing, there's an unfollow button. I wish they wouldn't use their keyboards like a weapon. That said, the community I've built gives me a great amount of joy. Today, I have more than 1,000 monthly members worldwide, almost 30,000 Instagram followers and a brilliant, loyal community of midlife women who want to move for joy, not guilt. When my dog ran away, one woman – a follower with a tracker dog – drove three counties to help me find him. I still can't believe that happened. And the number of DMs I get from people checking in when I've gone quiet for a few days – it's astonishing and humbling. Over time, I've made conscious changes, though. I don't share where I am until I've left. My teenagers want nothing to do with my feed – which is fair. And I'm a lot more careful now about what I show and whom I show. This isn't out of fear – I'm not hiding behind the sofa – but it's awareness. You start noticing where the line is once someone's crossed it. I'm lucky I haven't experienced the full trolling storm that some of my peers deal with. But I've seen how comfortable people feel commenting on your face, your body, your choices – especially as a woman over 40. I haven't had any work done, but I've had messages comparing my face from old videos to now. Others slide in saying things such as, 'Your eyes look really puffy – are you OK?' It's framed as concern, but it's invasive. There's this weird notion that once you've put yourself online, you've made yourself public property – and this idea seems to grow with your follower count. I have friends with much bigger accounts than mine who get relentlessly targeted. It's usually jealousy disguised as 'constructive feedback'. These are women doing creative, brave work – and getting penalised for daring to take up space. Still, there's no part of me that wants to walk away. I've built something I'm deeply proud of – not just a business but a space where women feel seen, supported and reminded that they matter in midlife. We move together. We laugh. We cheer each other on. It's not just about the workouts – it's about being allowed to take up space and to do it unapologetically.
