对我们中的许多人来说，自己的家已经成为新的办公地点。不论是餐桌还是沙发，都是摆放电脑的常见地方。不过，也有人选择在软绵绵的床上办公。

 

Our working lives are becoming more flexible. The coronavirus pandemic has made us rethink how and where we work. For many, working from home has become the new norm, with some people finding the cosiest¹ place to do this is in bed! But is this really the best place for your mind and body to carry out your job?

 

A 'duvet day' used to be an informal way of describing taking a day off sick from work, but with improvements in technology, such as good wi-fi, you can now do most of your work tasks reclining in bed while still tucked under your duvet and maybe snuggled up in your pyjamas². The benefits are obvious: no travel time to work, no need to get dressed or even get out of bed – unless you want a cup of tea!

 

The trend seems to be growing. But for some, it's not a matter of choice – it might be the only spare space in their home where they can work. According to a BBC online article "this is especially true of young workers; in the UK, workers aged³ 18 to 34 are the least likely to have a proper desk and chair and are twice as likely to work from bed than older workers."

 

Online retailers⁴ have reported a huge increase in people searching for laptop stands and support pillows. Although they might make the bed-working regime more comfortable, the reality is that your long-term health, particularly your posture⁵, could suffer. Your neck, back, hips⁶ and more are all strained when you're on a soft surface that encourages you to slump⁷ or sprawl⁸.

 

Working from bed can also affect your mental health. Sophie Bostock, founder⁹ of The Sleep Scientist, told the BBC: "If you don't have a good day at work, you start to change your associations with your bed as being about stress, deadlines, an awkward conversation with your boss." Stress, of course, can lead to insomnia¹⁰ and the only cure for that is a long Zoom¹¹ work meeting to help you doze¹² off!

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