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Poll: If you are a home-based freelancer, where do you work most comfortably?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Feb 5, 2012

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If you are a home-based freelancer, where do you work most comfortably?".

This poll was originally submitted by Noha Kamal, PhD.. View the poll results »



 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 05:23
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Study Feb 5, 2012

I hae converted a bedroom into my office. In addition to desks, computers and printers, it has bookshelves, file cabinets, a big cushion for my dogs to lie on, and more piles of paper than I care to admit.

 
Noha Kamal, PhD.
Noha Kamal, PhD.  Identity Verified
Local time: 14:23
English to Arabic
+ ...
Depends on the weather Feb 5, 2012

For me, it depends on the weather. Cold days, beds are far more inviting. Warm weather, the terrace is very appealing. Evenings, my living room couch is my best friend. I sometimes send emails and respond to queries in my kitchen, hehehe...

 
Noni Gilbert Riley
Noni Gilbert Riley
Spain
Local time: 13:23
Spanish to English
+ ...
I roam Feb 5, 2012

I have three or four main points where I tend to park myself, but new ones are always a possibility.

 
Claire Cox
Claire Cox
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:23
French to English
+ ...
Study but... Feb 5, 2012

NormallyI work in the study but with a 4-month-old puppy at the moment, I've decamped to the kitchen for the majority of my working time and am working with my laptop and all my paraphernalia spread out over the kitchen table. It's actually warmer in the kitchen than my north-facing study so it's no hardship and here I can supervise the dogs whilst I work. Once he's out of the chewing phase I shall move back upstairs again. I do miss my second screen, but wireless printing technology, Dropbox an... See more
NormallyI work in the study but with a 4-month-old puppy at the moment, I've decamped to the kitchen for the majority of my working time and am working with my laptop and all my paraphernalia spread out over the kitchen table. It's actually warmer in the kitchen than my north-facing study so it's no hardship and here I can supervise the dogs whilst I work. Once he's out of the chewing phase I shall move back upstairs again. I do miss my second screen, but wireless printing technology, Dropbox and online terminology options mean that it's been quite straightforward to work elsewhere.Collapse


 
Mary Worby
Mary Worby  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:23
German to English
+ ...
Living room Feb 5, 2012

We do have a purpose-built study in the house but my husband gets it, while I sit at one end of the sofa. But I do have the advantage of a stove in my room while he has air-con in his. On sub-zero days like today, I know where I'd rather be.

Very occasionally I decamp to the dining room for a change of scenery, but the chairs aren't so comfortable there!


 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 12:23
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Study or terrace Feb 5, 2012

depending on the weather and where I am. Nowadays, for family reasons, I move a lot between Brussels and Lisbon. So when I am in Brussels, definitely my purpose-built office, but when I am in Lisbon, weather permitting, on my terrace...

 
Cathy Przybylski
Cathy Przybylski  Identity Verified
Local time: 13:23
Member (2010)
German to French
+ ...
study Feb 5, 2012

depending of the work. I am working on hard translations only in my office. I can make easier translations in the dining room. Administrative tasks are only carried out in the office so that I do not have too many papers in the dining room !

 
Rosa Grau (X)
Rosa Grau (X)
Spain
Local time: 13:23
English to Catalan
+ ...
Living-room Feb 5, 2012

Our living-room used to be that at first but has slowly become a doing-everything place, from working on the computer to doing homework, playing music, reading, etc. We do not have a TV and we do not eat there anymore, but in the kitchen.

 
Alexandra Speirs
Alexandra Speirs  Identity Verified
Local time: 13:23
Italian to English
+ ...
Living room but... Feb 5, 2012

I work in the living room but I'd really like a study, unfortunately no chance of getting one in this house.

 
Yvonne Gallagher
Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 12:23
Member (2010)
French to English
+ ...
other, office ++ Feb 5, 2012

I have a purpose-built office in garden but at night work on living room couch so I can (half )watch TV. I sometimes just get into bed with laptop when it's cold or just for change of position and have been known to work from kitchen table as well. However, I try to keep all dictionaries and files etc in office and the (large) second computer screen is really better for the eyes.

 
Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:23
English to Spanish
+ ...
Wherever there is natural light, that is Feb 5, 2012

I use my condo's living room as my office space...because the studio behind it is a bit cramped. Yet I use the studio (or den or 2nd bedroom) as a library. I usually sit on a theraball during long hours to prevent stiff legs at the end of the day.

I have read that some of my colleagues work in the kitchen...I hope they do it sitting down. Regardless of where we choose to work, using ergonomic sense is not enough. Listening to what your body tells you is very important to avoid stif
... See more
I use my condo's living room as my office space...because the studio behind it is a bit cramped. Yet I use the studio (or den or 2nd bedroom) as a library. I usually sit on a theraball during long hours to prevent stiff legs at the end of the day.

I have read that some of my colleagues work in the kitchen...I hope they do it sitting down. Regardless of where we choose to work, using ergonomic sense is not enough. Listening to what your body tells you is very important to avoid stiffening and painful body conditions later on.
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Interlangue (X)
Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 13:23
English to French
+ ...
Study Feb 5, 2012

The largest room, it covers the whole surface of the house, top floor. That is actually the place where I live when night temperatures are not below 0°C.
When it gets too hot during the summer (yes, it happens once in a while), I take my laptop down one floor at the time... I hate aircon; it makes me sick (as do fur coats)!


 
Allison Wright (X)
Allison Wright (X)  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 12:23
In my office Feb 5, 2012

I am surprised at how many people do not have a fixed designated place from which to work.

Whilst my office (one of two rooms in our small rented apartment) is not ideal in that it does not have its own window and houses the (silent) fridge, it does have a table which functions as my desk, on top of which is my laptop, most frequently used paper dictionaries between bookends, a lamp, a few papers, telephone, coffee mug (!) and pens and pencils and things. My printer sits on top of a
... See more
I am surprised at how many people do not have a fixed designated place from which to work.

Whilst my office (one of two rooms in our small rented apartment) is not ideal in that it does not have its own window and houses the (silent) fridge, it does have a table which functions as my desk, on top of which is my laptop, most frequently used paper dictionaries between bookends, a lamp, a few papers, telephone, coffee mug (!) and pens and pencils and things. My printer sits on top of a homemade kist which forms an L-shape with the table. This room houses all translation-related material, most of which - for want of a bookshelf, and space - is in an ugly built-in wardrobe not used for clothes.

The fact that my immediate view when I look up through the office door is half a window above the kitchen stove merely serves to keep me focussed on the screen - and work.

I have had better home offices in my life, but this will have to do for now. At least it is a fixed base with order and relative quiet where I can concentrate. It is my own space, and comfortable up to a point. To me, the bedroom and the lounge would be quite unsuitable places to work.
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Melissa McMahon
Melissa McMahon  Identity Verified
Australia
Local time: 23:23
French to English
Study, but... Feb 6, 2012

I actually work in a corner of the living room, but I believe I would work "most comfortably" in the study I wish I had!
MM


 
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Poll: If you are a home-based freelancer, where do you work most comfortably?






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