With spring well and truly here and that warm weather gradually rolling in, working from home with dazzling sunshine outside can become disheartening.
The British are well known for making the absolute most out of good weather (who knows how long it will last) and the thought of being stuck inside on a beautiful can be frustrating.
While we can’t all run outside to go and play whenever it’s good weather, when you’re working from home, you do have a much higher level of freedom than when you’re working in an office. If you have the means available, why not set up an outside office so you can still enjoy the weather while getting your work done at the same time.
Here are seven tips for setting up your own garden office.
Style of working
It can be easy just to take your laptops outside and sit in a deck chair, but while this might be comfortable for a short period, it’s probably not conducive to how you need to work.
When considering an outdoor office, try to think about simply replicating how you work inside. If you need a desk and a good chair, then make sure you have the same outside. Or if you are an architect and simply need a large table to draw on, things become a little easier.
You probably don’t want an enormous desk outside, so one of Flexispot’s Height adjustable desks could be an excellent option. Not only are they light and easy to move, but you can also still alternate between sitting and standing.
Think shade
If you’re working on a laptop, bright sunshine can be your worst nightmare, so it’s important to consider what kind of shade you can have outside. Ideally, you would have some kind of shade above you, but you can just as easily purchase a laptop sun shield, or simply use a shoebox.
Privacy
This isn’t so much of a factor when the kids are at school, but if you want your workspace to be a success during the kid’s holidays, you’ll need to be able to separate work and play. This means you aren’t right next to the paddling pool or the mini football pitch and ideally have your own space where you can get on with work in peace and quiet (or as close to it as possible).
Check the wifi and boost if needed
For most small to medium houses, a wifi signal originating from inside should be fine when outside too, but it may be a case of moving the router closer to the door or even boosting the wifi as a last resort.
Think about your setting
Remember that setting up an outdoor office should provide you with a setting where you actually want to go, while having the added benefit of being outside.
It doesn’t make sense if your outside area is even less appealing than your indoor area. This might be down to several factors, including living arrangements, an untidy outside area and noise. Sometimes you will have absolutely no control over these factors, but other times you can certainly influence the setting.
It might be as easy as finally getting around to mowing the lawn and pulling out some of the largest and most obnoxious weeds, or it might provide you with that kick in the butt to actually tackle the garden like you have been talking about for the last three years.
If you are going to work outside for more than a single day, take the time to spruce up the area the best you can.
Consider the elements
It’s Britain. Never assume that the current fabulous weather is going to continue uninterrupted. While you probably don’t need to make your outdoor workspace completely rain and windproof, it is worth considering your emergency procedure if the heavens were to suddenly open and a torrent of water suddenly descended on your laptop and work papers.
In this case, it pays to make things as simple as possible. If you need to move quickly, you don’t want to have to spend ten minutes reeling in your many hundreds of meters worth of wires as the rain begins to come down.
Ergonomics still matter
Amid all of the excitement about being able to work outside, it can be easy to choose the easiest or most convenient form of sitting, but just as in regular offices, ergonomics matter.
Current health problems relating to poor posture and working conditions have been well documented, so we won’t dive back into it here. Except to say, if you’ve decided to make a change to try and address that neck or back problem you’ve been suffering, it’s important to try and continue in the same way.
A Cycle Desk Bike or a Sit2Go fitness chair are both excellent options if you want to practice a little active sitting while outside in the fresh air. If there’s a better way of working than by slowly getting a workout while out in the sunshine we haven’t come across it yet.
The bottom line
If you have the option, setting up an outside working area will most likely benefit you in several ways, including increased productivity and high levels of satisfaction. It won’t completely change your life, but then again, life is about making those small changes that can add up to something more substantial along the way.
Spending time outside is generally better for your health and if you’re the kind of person that winces when there is beautiful weather on a workday, an outdoor office might be exactly what you’re looking for.
