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[00:00.39] 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 commute home.

[00:12.34] In many ways, it seems like an outdated working practice.

[00:16.59] And maybe that’s why more and more of us are now choosing to work from home.

[00:21.91] There are, of course, many reasons for remote working, as it is also called.

[00:27.49] 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.

[00:39.44] 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.

[00:49.00] 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.

[01:01.75] Marketing consultant Mark Black told the BBC he struggled to switch off from work when he was based solely at home.

[01:09.99] 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."

[01:20.08] It’s true that being at home means you can’t physically 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.”

[01:37.61] 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.

[02:00.46] There are also employees who have no choice but to work remotely because their companies have decided to do away with offices altogether to have a more agile workforce - it's certainly very cost effective and attractive for start-ups.

[02:08.69] But for those employed by businesses with a physical base, working at home provides a convenient alternative to the 9 to 5.

[02:17.72] And without the distraction of their colleagues, it can be the most productive place to work!