Working from home: tips, excuses and frustrations and is good WiFi more important than food?

Megan van der Wagt

Although working from home has many advantages, it also has its disadvantages. Netgear, known for its Netgear mesh system Orbi RBK853 and the mobile router Nighthawk M6 Pro Mobile Router, conducted research into the striking work-from-home behavior of Dutch people.

The top 5 biggest work-from-home frustrations among Dutch people:
1. Poorly working WiFi (14%)
2. Becoming distracted (14%)
3. Technical problems (a screen that does not work) (12%)
4. Isolation and no contact with others (9%)
5. Noise pollution from neighbors or outside (9%)

Poorly working WiFi appears to frustrate many Dutch people. In addition, Netgear research shows that 3 in 10 Dutch people (28%) consider a good WiFi connection even more important to get through their day successfully than good nutrition.

Men have more excuses for working from home than women
Internet connection has a significant impact on our work-from-home performance. 13% of Dutch people have had serious problems with work or school because WiFi did not work properly and 1 in 5 Dutch people (19%) have even missed an important meeting because of this.
On the other hand, Dutch people also use poorly functioning internet as an excuse for their own gain: 1 in 10 Dutch people (9%) have used poorly functioning WiFi as an excuse to avoid a meeting or assignment for work or school. It is striking that men do this more often than women (M: 11%; F:7%).

Working from home tips
Do you (often) work from home? Then we have some tips for you. For example, let yourself be cheered up by a nice scent. Getting distracted appears to be the second biggest work-from-home frustration for Dutch people. Don’t feel like working anymore and suffer from poor concentration? Then try something other than putting your phone away. It may sound strange, but scents can have a major influence on your mood and concentration. Place a nice smelling bouquet of flowers, scented candle or air freshener with a scent that relaxes and focuses you. Or open a window so that your brain gets more fresh air and oxygen to be productive.

Gamify your working day
Suffering from little motivation? Then we have a tip that you can use gamification elements to make your working day more fun. Make a game of your to-do list by giving yourself points for each task completed and work your way toward rewards like a coffee or break. By attaching a certain value to completed tasks and the fact that each completed task brings you close to your goal and a reward, you boost your motivation and make your working day a lot more fun.

Collaborate virtually in VR
Working from home can be nice and relaxing, but the lack of company and bustle can also take the energy out of you, the research shows. Almost 1 in 10 Dutch people become frustrated by isolation and little social contact while working from home. Therefore, organize virtual co-working sessions with colleagues or friends. This way you work from the comfort of your own home, but you are not alone and you can motivate and inspire each other. Nowadays it is even possible to set up a virtual co-working space with VR sets, so that you can sit in the office from home with your colleagues (as avatars).

Don’t forget your connection
It may seem obvious, but ensuring a good internet connection can do wonders for your productivity and mental well-being. So double-checking whether your internet is reducing your productivity and equipping your home with a strong WiFi system is definitely recommended.

*The survey is a representative national survey, conducted in February 2024, by research agency iVOX on behalf of NETGEAR, among 1,000 Dutch people.