Work Remotely to break the Work from Home (WFH) Monotony
My home office is my refuge. It is set up so I can work the way I need, based on the day or the project.
There is a traditional desk and chair to run meetings, around which are cushions where I can spread out on the floor and have everything in reach. While I am productive in my office, sometimes I need a break from the WFH monotony with some .
Since starting my business, I noticed everything improves when I step away from my office and its 4-walls. Moreover, the sounds, smells, and experience of changing my routine inspires my creative side and helps sustain me when I have tedious detailed work ahead.
Improved WiFi, MiFi, and cellphone hotspot technologies means it is now possible to work in more places than your WFH.
WFH is standard for working remotely during quarantine and stay-at-home situations. Your choice of virtual office; however, is only limited to your imagination.
On-the-go work has been my thing for years. Because sharing is caring, I put together a list of places to help you add nature and fresh air to your WFH situation.
9 places to break the WFH monotony and be productive:
1) The Balcony – WFH with fresh air & all the creature comforts
My go-to quick WFT alternate spot was always my balcony. I had secure, reliable WiFi, lots of electrical outlets for my tech, and my coffee pot.
Consider anyplace close to home that allows you to keep these perks. Maybe for you, this space is a rooftop, a deck, or a back patio.
Pro-tips: Most balcony furniture is not designed for office usage. Consider adding outdoor pillows to your set-up. An umbrella or sunshade makes the space appealing even on hot, sunny days.
2) Green Space – a timed sprint in the shade instead of WFH in the dark
In New Orleans, I shared apartments, so WFH wasn’t always an option. For this reason, I would spread a blanket on the bank of Bayou St. John and work undisturbed. Green space might be your lawn, a communal garden, or in more urban areas, the nearest pocket park, or a patch of maintained grass.
The park is my favorite spot when to plug away on a long-term project that doesn’t require internet access. I put in a few hyper-productive hours, didn’t feel cooped up, and when my battery died – that’s a wrap. Also, would you turn down the chance to be on a conference call while lying on the grass under the cool shade of a tree?
Pro-tips: Before settling into your temporary office, inspect the spot for ant hills, wasp nests, and other insect homes. If you’ve had rain in the last week, consider using a water-resistant blanket to prevent a soggy bottom.
3) The Beach – the awe of the ocean instead of the WFH blues
I knew a woman who took her morning calls on the beach from June to September. She said she was the happiest working during the summer and typically had better meeting results.
Research shows that the sounds of nature and water features can help people relax. I wonder if her team benefited from crashing waves every morning. I’m sure the extra dose of Vitamin-D helped her, too.
Pro-tips: Stay alert if the beach is your remote office, wind whips off the water often throwing sand around. With this in mind, make sure you can quickly tuck away your laptop. Additionally, invest in a headset that reduces background noise and prevents the wind-tunnel effect. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
4) The Car – an additional room that’s mobile, but isn’t a room
Before my car-owning days, I sat in the stairwell of my building when the apartment got crowded, and I needed to get stuff done. Not ideal – but it was quiet and private-ish.
Now, I move to the car to hold a conversation without distraction and still have good WiFi. It is also more comfortable than a stairwell. In the last few months, I noticed an increasing number of LinkedIn videos taken from the car, probably for the same reason.
An additional bonus to the car-as-office idea: When traveling, my partner & I switch driving responsibilities around my work schedule. Even though it can be a little cramped, the last-minute flexibility allows me to fully enjoy my time off.
Pro-tips: Set up in the back seat because it is less distracting to the driver, and your tech doesn’t become a projectile if there is a sudden stop. Before loading the car with suitcases, identify your “travel office”, thus avoiding re-packing multiple times.
5) A Tent – a quick nature break
It is not uncommon for me to declare in the middle of the week that we must go camping. I typically sleep well when camping and feel refreshed when the sun rises. As a result, work is natural and effortless.
Nothing feels like I’m living the dream more than taking a conference call while snuggled up in front of a campfire with camp coffee.
Pro-tips: Be sure to find a campsite that is an hour or less from your WFH office. In case the weather changes and you have to pack up in the rain, your schedule won’t be rain out. In the event that you need to plug in your laptop, a small DC/AC power inverter that plugs into the car’s cigarette lighter is handy.
6) The Front Lawn – the new coffee shop
With the warmer weather, I see more neighbors with laptops sitting in their front lawns or on their front stoops. While the front yard is technically green space, it quickly morphs into something more because you can have brief conversations with passers-by. These short, pithy chats remind me of encounters at my local coffee spots. The NYTimes recently printed a piece about how these simple interactions build our community and enhance our quality of life.
You can be social at a safe distance and get work done. If it’s nice outside, the front lawn or stoop offers an ideal WFH situation, connecting to your office and your local community. The front lawn also lends itself to a wonderful past-time: people watching.
Pro-tips: Your neighbors might not recognize you are on a call. With this in mind, a wired headset is the perfect visual to your neighbors that you are busy or on a call, not just talking to yourself or ignoring them. A wide-brimmed hat or adjustable umbrella keeps you cool and your screens glare-free.
7) Take a Hike – the view that keeps on giving
Do you have a video call later in the day, but also an itch for some quality time with Mother Nature? Then the answer might be a trek to a local trail. While most hiking trails get a decent cell signal, before you head out, search your carrier’s coverage area to confirm that you will be in range. If you regularly hike to new spots and unsure about the connectivity, consider investing in a cell signal booster.
You can share the beautiful view with your colleagues. Then again, you could use a virtual background if you work with those who are still in areas with stay-at-home orders and are a little envious of you spending time in the great outdoors.
Pro-tips: Regardless of your destination, time your hike so you have a few minutes to sip some water, wipe the sweat off your face and reapply bug repellent before you dial-in. You don’t want to be distracted by annoying gnats, pesky mosquitoes, or disease-carrying ticks!
8) Dock It – the tranquility of the lake
The stillness of a lake and its surrounding eco-system instantly instills me with serenity and peace. Even when the lake is full of canoes and swimmers, sounds echoing off the water seem to soften. In other words, white noise that doesn’t distract or jolt me from my focus.
A chair on a private dock or an undisturbed clearing at the water’s edge is an ideal spot for making that important call, writing an inspirational blog post, or finalizing that big report.
Pro tips: Consider making your phone splash-resistant by putting it in a clear sealable sandwich bag or buy a floating waterproof case. Similarly, it should go without saying, but just in case, be careful not to drop your laptop in the water!
9) Walk the Dog – movement as motivation
Just because you are no longer in the office, you are still sitting at a desk. Remember that you should walk away from your screen for 5-10 minutes every hour. For me, disrupting a good flow seems like the worst idea ever – even if it helps in the long-run.
When I feel like this, I try to use the break to walk my dog and make quick phone calls (or if dog-less walk 5 minutes in one direction then back). While not the most inspiring option, a short walk is a straightforward way to be productive away from your 4-walls. Above all, Gertie loves her walks, making it a win-win.
Pro-tips: Regular exercise often means improved sleep (exhibit A). Getting enough sleep keeps us healthy, according to the CDC.
A sleeping Gertie after a day with a lot of walks
Where is your favorite virtual office?
How do you break the WFH monotony?
Learn more about the work I do, and how getting help from a data storyteller will help you make the most of your website’s content.