A home office can have many perks, but living and working under the same roof can also become uninspiring – and even tedious – if you don’t make time for a change of scenery.
Working from an alternative location can reenergise your productivity, reduce boredom, and make you less likely to procrastinate. Those who frequently work outside of their home are likely accustomed to using every opportunity to connect with free WiFi, a comfortable chair, and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones.
Love it or hate it, the discipline of getting work done away from your home office is a smart skill to cultivate. Here are three alternative locations.
1. Coffee shops
Few places can compare to your home office than a coffee shop. Virtually all offer free WiFi with your purchase, and you can alternate between people-watching and work.
Be aware, however, that although you won’t have to make your own coffee when you want a refill, holding down one location for too long or taking business calls within earshot of other paying customers might be inconvenient.
Use every opportunity to get outside when chatting on the phone, if only to stretch your legs and keep a low profile in your favourite coffee shop.
2. Public libraries
Libraries are a wonderful, public resource for when you need to get out of the house. Most libraries have meeting rooms, technology such as free WiFi, and comfortable chairs that create a pleasant place to focus.
They have vast collections of resources if you need to research academic journals, archives, or local information.
You’re welcome to stay from open to closing, and can choose to work from outside if the WiFi connection is strong. Naturally, you can’t take calls or have loud conversations indoors, but many libraries allow guests to reserve private meeting rooms.
3. Co-working spaces
Co-working spaces offer drop-in and membership rates for remote workers seeking a place to focus or hold meetings. They often come complete with office space, high-speed WiFi, and places to relax or whip up a snack or beverage.
These spaces should be used strategically, as they tend to cost more than the other options and have unique rules and communities built around their services. Research what local options are available and consider what you’ll be getting for your time and money spent.
Making it work
By practising mobility with work, you can be productive no matter where you are. Using web-based tools, such as project management applications, real-time messaging, and scheduling software can help keep work flowing smoothly as you alternate between locations or time zones.
No matter where you work, do everything you can to keep your hardware and software safe from would-be thieves. While many locations may offer free WiFi, keep in mind many are not secure even if password-protected.
When working with sensitive data, use a virtual private network (VPN) or bring your own WiFi hotspot as you travel.
This article first appeared in jobstore.com.
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