Distractions Force Distracted, 'Desperate' Home-Based Business Owners To Coffee Shops, Alternative Office Spaces, Survey Says

LAKE FOREST - Children running in and out of the house, the incessant humming of a lawnmower outside your window. Not to mention the boisterous 22 Greek cousins stopping by for brunch. Or the naked au pair walking to and fro. For many, these are the coming sounds - and visuals - of summer.

To an increasing number of home-based businesses and remote office workers, the cacophony of noise and activity causes such a distraction they are escaping to the local coffee shop or alternative office space to get their work done.

So says the results of a survey sent to home-based business owners who say they love the idea of working from home but have come to understand that enough is enough when it comes to the barriers to their own productivity.

The survey, conducted by LifeWorking Coworking, 717 Forest Avenue, Lake Forest, a "new-way-to-work" place in Lake Forest populated by solo-preneurs, freelancers, corporate commuters, small business owners, and professional service providers, revealed that 69 percent of respondents said yes when asked: "Have you escaped to a library, coffee shop, or other place out of sheer desperation?"

"As our survey recipients tell us, though they may love working at home, they often are less productive," said Steve Whittington, founder and president of LifeWorking Coworking. "Here, our members are still close to home, but they have removed themselves from home's distractions to be successful and productive at work while also balancing a fulfilling personal life."

Survey respondents told of moments that challenged their work routines:

•"My dog making a guest appearance on a Skype video conference."

•"Our cuckoo clock striking 12 during a teleconference."

•"The tree next door that almost fell through the office window."

*"The sight of a SWAT team breaking into a neighbor's house."

•"Our toddler eating food from garbage not eaten when served as negotiating with client."

Even more of a disruption were the one-off stories out of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and a PG-rated scenario.

"Twenty-two of my wife's Greek cousins, including six kids under age eight, came over for brunch while I was handling conference calls," said one respondent.

And then there was the case of the naked au pair, obviously a big surprise…

"We had an au pair staying with us, a girl from Switzerland," said the home-based business owner. "One evening, I was working in my office when I heard a jaunty hello from behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see her naked apart from skimpy briefs.

"I was stunned," he continued. "Then, from the other room, my wife shouted to the au pair, 'You cannot walk around like that!' Not sure I agreed with her, but it was definitely a distraction!"

What to do when distractions overtake your productivity? One respondent had a simple solution to remove himself from the kids running in and out of the house. "I frequently hide in my closet for conference calls," he said.

LifeWorking Coworking is a fully furnished, productive, and collaborative work space for individuals, businesses, and teams located in downtown Lake Forest. This coworking community includes everything a professional might want: desks, conference rooms, white boards, secure Wi-Fi, printers and copiers, and even free coffee and a stylish cafe, as well as the company of like-minded entrepreneurs, business owners and employees.

Memberships range from full time to day-based flex memberships to virtual offices. Three-month memberships are popular in summertime. Non-members are encouraged to take advantage of just-in-time day passes and to book conference rooms when needed.

"We've all been there," said Wendy Spreenberg, Operations Lead for LifeWorking Coworking. "ComEd nearly put a tree branch through my home office window while I was on a conference call. We're here to help home office workers avoid distractions and maintain their productivity throughout the summer months - and beyond."

For a tour, please visit LifeWorking Coworking, 717 Forest Avenue, 2nd floor, Lake Forest. For more information, please visit www.mylifeworking.com, info@mylifeworking.com, or call (847) 457-2662.