Yvonne Glasgow
For those who work from home, it’s nice to get out of the house for a workday sometimes. Working at a bar or coffee shop is a great way to change the scenery but not always possible.
I’ve been working from the comfort of my home for a couple of decades, and despite the perks of working at home, I sometimes get sick of being at home all the time. When coffee shops aren’t available as a workspace indoors, there are outdoor options for working out of the house when you need some fresh air.
The Park
The park offers a beautiful outdoor space to get your work done. There might not be perfect peace and quiet, but you can find a nice spot under a tree to focus on work.
If you plan to use a park bench or picnic table, wipe the space down with some hand sanitizer or wipes. If you’d prefer to set up shop exactly where you want, you can always bring a lightweight camp chair from home.
The Porch
If you want to get a little fresh air and a different view without needing to drive anywhere, you can pop out on your own porch or put up a lawn chair in the backyard for a temporary workspace. You get the benefits of fresh air, trees, and birds without leaving your yard.
If you have an all-seasons porch, you might even be able to get away without investing in sunshade for your laptop screen. Speaking of working outside on your porch, if you intend to work regularly on your patio, we recommend taking a peek at our outdoor home office tips.
Outdoor Seating at Cafes
Many restaurants and cafes are opening back up during the pandemic, though some of them only offer outdoor seating at this time. If you’ve been missing your favorite bar or coffee shop where you get work done, call to see if they have some socially distanced outdoor seating.
While outdoor seating may not offer an outlet to keep your laptop charged, you can head up there with a fully charged machine and still get quite a bit of work done.
The Beach
While working on the beach proper is pretty impractical—your laptop doesn’t want anything to do with the sand or the blazing sun—working near the beach is pretty nice.
Rather than try to recreate a stock photo by sticking your feet in the actual sand, opt to work up in the shade of the treeline or a park pavilion with a great view of the water. Compared to working on your deck or terrace it’s a bit of a hassle, but it’s really tough to beat the constant breeze and beach vibes.
Your Car
You don’t have to travel too far, even if you don’t have a porch or a backyard, to get out of the house and get a little fresh air while still getting some work done on your laptop or tablet. You can head right out to your car. Roll down the windows, turn on the radio, and get some work done.
If you need to make calls for work, doing it from the car is just as convenient, and if your car has a built-in Bluetooth hands-free system, it’s like you’re in your own private conference room.
Even when you’re working from home during a pandemic, you don’t always have to stay inside the stuffy house. Get out of the home office and get some sun and enjoy the fresh air while you’re on the clock.
