If you go to work, you're probably familiar with the routine of travelling to the office, hunting for an available desk, completing your tasks and then enduring your commute¹ home. In many ways, it seems like an outdated² working practice. And maybe that's why more and more of us are now choosing to work from home.

 

There are, of course, many reasons for remote working, as it is also called. The demands of modern life and a desire for a better work-life balance has driven the trend, along with improved technology, which makes doing most tasks at home a doddle.

 

In the UK, figures from the Office for National Statistics show more than one and a half million people work from home for their main job. But, although logging on from the comfort of your sofa may appeal, especially if it's part of a flexible working approach, some people are forced to work from home and find it hard going. Marketing³ consultant⁴ Mark Black told the BBC he struggled to switch off from work when he was based solely⁵ at home. He says: "I hated home working. You get up in the morning and stare at the same four walls, do your work, and try and clock off, but you can't." It's true that being at home means you can't physically⁶ leave your office behind, and as Emma Mamo from mental health charity Mind says: "Home workers don't always have the same opportunities to connect with people as their office-based colleagues.”

 

But remote working doesn't always mean being at home. Cafes and workplace spaces offer a chance for workers, particularly self-employed people, to come together and interact with each other. There are also employees who have no choice but to work remotely because their companies have decided⁷ to do away with offices altogether to have a more agile⁸ workforce⁹ - it's certainly very cost effective and attractive for start-ups. But for those employed by businesses with a physical base, working at home provides a convenient alternative to the 9 to 5. And without the distraction¹⁰ of their colleagues, it can be the most productive place to work!

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