Working in an office isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. You’re in a closed-off space that smells of coffee and deadlines. Even when you work from home, this dislike of offices never really goes away. Wouldn’t it be great if you could switch it up and enjoy working in the great outdoors? Even heading to your yard and working there would be amazing. Well, there’s no one stopping you from doing exactly that. You can move your office outside without much issue, as long as you prepare adequately. Here are some tips that can help you make this a reality.
Bring adequate seating
A decent chair is a prerequisite for quality work. This is something anyone well-versed in ergonomics will tell you. You can’t concentrate on your work if you’re constantly being bothered by an uncomfortable or mispositioned chair. It’s distracting and gets in the way of your hard work. It also worsens your posture, which is bad for your health.
This is why it’s crucial that you find yourself adequate seating for your outside office. Although, it might be a bit trickier than finding indoor seating. Not only do you have to find something comfortable, but you also have to make sure it’s able to survive the elements. Even if you decide to work on your porch and cover it from the rain and hail, some will always find its way through.
What you need is a tough chair that is easy to clean and transport. Choose your material wisely. Outdoor leisure chairs can be made practical rather easily, which is why they’re worth considering. Plus, they’re already designed for the outside, making them a lot easier to clean and maintain in this environment.
Don’t neglect breaks
People often consider working outside to be a respite of its own. After all, you get to spend time in the sun and fresh air, what’s not to like about that? Resting is a crucial part of productive work. Even though you’re enjoying the outdoors, you’re still hard at work. This means you’ll have to take breaks from time to time.
Get up from your office desk and do something that doesn’t involve work. Go for a cigarette break or make some coffee. Don’t look at it as time that could have been used more productively, as break time does contribute to the efficiency of your work. Stick to your decided break time and enjoy it while you can, and then get back to work.
Adjust the internet connection
There’s no doubt about it, you’ll need a good WIFI connection to get work done. Just about every single office job out there requires a steady internet connection, which means your outdoor office will need one for your work to continue. If your yard doesn’t get the best signal, you might have to make some adjustments.
The easiest way to fix this would be to move the router close to the door leading to your yard. If this isn’t a problem, you’ve resolved the issue. On the other hand, other parts of your home might need this internet connection as well. Not to mention, your family might mind you moving the router farther from them.
Alternatively, you can always get a WIFI signal extender. This would likely give you more than enough range to cover your entire home. Your outdoor office would remain well connected and nobody would have to lose out on a strong internet connection.
Get comfortable with the outdoors
Working outside has its own kind of charm. You’re not cramped up inside of an enclosed space with stale air, but rather enjoying what nature has to offer. This transition might seem like it should be easy, but you’ll need a bit of adjusting before you get used to it.
For starters, your indoor attire might not be appropriate for an outside office. If it gets a little too hot, you’ll want to choose lighter clothing. While a home office already implies comfortable clothing, your new outfit will have to keep you from sweating in the heat, while also keeping you warm in case of wind.
Speaking of extreme heat, you have to take the sun’s impact into consideration. During summer months, the sun could really disrupt your work by making it difficult to see your screen. Not to mention, the extra heat makes it even harder to concentrate. Luckily, there are ways to shelter your outdoor office oasis from the sun.
A pergola would be your best bet. It’s a simple way to cover up your porch and provide you with lots of shade when you need it. You’ll need a bit of help with the pergola roof installation, but the end result is well worth the trouble. You can get your work done without the sun disrupting your concentration.
Keep it well-organized
Saying “I’ll be able to efficiently work outside” is a lot easier than actually doing it. You’re never too far from relaxation and carefree enjoyment, especially in nice weather. Plus, who’s going to bring their whole entire office outside? Very few individuals trust their own organization to do so. This leaves the outdoor portion of your office as the main workstation, while a lot of the paperwork and important files remain indoors. While this does provide you with some benefits, it also makes you lose concentration when you go back and forth inside.
Make sure your outside office includes portable items that you can bring inside when the weather is really unfavourable. You can’t easily transport an entire desk computer outside when you need it, but you definitely can do so with a laptop. Don’t leave your important items unattended for long, as they might get damaged by a surprise downpour.
Conclusion
Moving your home office outside isn’t as difficult of a task as you might think. The logistics seem harsh at first, but you’re really not making all that many changes. The real change is how you perceive your office. If you’re able to adjust to your new working space, you’ll find that it has tons of benefits that are well worth the change.
Author Bio:
Sarah Jessica Smith is a young blogger from Sydney. She is in love with life and all the things that can make her daily routine easier. She loves to write about home improvement, lifestyle, and all the small things that make life such a great adventure.
