Have you perfected your working from home setup? With the onset of a second wave of the virus in the UK meaning we’re likely to be staying home a while longer, the importance of a comfortable working environment can’t be understated. Yet a new study has found that only 16% of us are able to work from dedicated home offices.
The news comes from a study conducted by instantprint, the UK’s largest online printer of flyers, leaflets and other materials. The company surveyed home workers across the UK and found that 44% were primarily working from their living rooms.
20% of Brits are clocking on from their bedrooms, while 17% are getting work done from their kitchens. Surprisingly, as much as 17% have created an office setup in the hallway.
With other areas of our homes doubling up as workspaces, how are people coping with the transition?
Contents
Our most common distractions
A home office is a luxury for most people, and especially those living in flats or shared accommodation. The lack of a dedicated work area could be one reason why one in ten Brits complain of having too many distractions while working at home.
Children are unsurprisingly the biggest hindrance to productivity, while partners and household chores are also high on the list. Have you used the current situation to get more bits done around the house?
Without our colleagues looking over our shoulders, other common distractions include online shopping, watching TV and cooking.
What does an ideal working from home setup look like?
One thing the pandemic will have shown employers is that everybody is different when it comes to ideal working environments. But even in the living room or elsewhere, there are some things almost all of us can’t work without. If you need advice on setting up a home studio, prostudiogear has come up with a great guide.
A comfortable place to sit is top of the list, with even a few hours spent on a rigid kitchen table chair enough to cause serious back pain. Some form of desk or surface space is vital, while communication equipment such as headsets can make video calls a little less painful.
Are we enjoying remote working?
Before a second wave looked imminent, Brits had been slower to return to the office than workers elsewhere in Europe. That could suggest we had it too good at home – but instantprint’s survey found the idea of home working is splitting the nation if you need more information you can visit validpick.com.
34% love it and never want to work any other way – but another third hope to return to the office in some capacity soon. The sense of flexibility between work and personal life is one aspect lots of us are enjoying, however. Are you in any rush to go back to the office?
With the virus likely to be with us for the foreseeable future, our living rooms could be doubling up as offices for some time yet.