Sunlight and fresh air can do many things for your mood. If you are already working from home, you might miss out on Mr. Sun because you need to be in front of your computer from 7 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon. You will miss that hour of commute or drive where you’ll get to at least walk under the sun for a few hours every day. If you’re wondering why your energy and mood are on a downside since working from home, it’s because you’ve been staying most of the time indoors.
Thankfully, you can expand your working space outdoors. That’s something you cannot do if you’re still in a pre-pandemic office setting. All you can do in the office is to open the windows nearest your desk. Now that you are working from home, you are free to carry your laptop and files to the garden and work while being surrounded by nature.
Work on the Deck
It is so much better to work on a deck rather than directly in the garden, where insects from the grass can crawl on the foot of the table or up your legs. You’ll be more comfortable on the deck. If your house doesn’t have a deck yet, it might be time to think about putting one. Call a decking service company. They can guide you on how to set up your deck in the backyard. It doesn’t have to be super big, but just enough to put some chairs and even a griller for future barbecue parties.
What’s great about a deck is that it’s super easy to maintain. With the right materials and waterproof coating, you don’t have to worry about its maintenance for a long time. Not to mention, if you’re a bit handy around the house, repairs and replacements are easy.
Create a Shade
Sure, you’re fond of staying under the sun, but you do know that it’s bad for your skin to be under direct sunlight at specific times of the day, right? Too much sun can lead to a variety of skin diseases and illnesses. Aside from that, your laptop will not last under the sun for too long. If the temperature outside is hot for your skin, then it’s hot for your computer, too. The recommended temperature for laptops is between 50 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have to work outside, do so in the early morning or late in the afternoon or early evening.
Direct sunlight on the screen also causes glare. You do know how difficult it is to look at your computer screen when the sun is too high, right? It’s the same thing when you’re using your smartphone outside. Great companies like Apple and Samsung have no answer to this. Even their most advanced feature can’t fight off the maddening effect of the sun’s glare.
That being said, you need to create a shade on the deck or garden. A nice big tent-like umbrella will be great. If you can, build a gazebo in the garden so that there’s enough shade for a large table with your laptop, files, and other office paraphernalia.
Pick Waterproof and Sunproof Furniture
The ergonomic chair and desk you love so much cannot work outdoors. You need different pieces of furniture for outdoor work. Find weatherproof furniture for your outdoor work. Make sure it can last in different weather conditions such as the humidity and high and low temperatures. Climate change is very real, which means you can experience very hot and humid weather, as well as very cool ones where it almost feels like winter when it’s not.
Make It Comfortable
No matter what you choose to do in your outdoor home office, never compromise comfort for it. Choose the right furniture. Put an art-deco lamp on your desk. Invest in back support if you need it. Prioritize making this little spot a haven. If you’re going to work from home (without the conveniences of an office setup), you might as well make it the most comfortable outdoor home office ever. You should be free to want an industrial, chic, elegant, modern, or classic outdoor office setup.
An outdoor home office can inspire you to work more productively. It will definitely improve your mood since staying indoors is an instant party pooper. Nature has a positive effect on productivity and well-being that employers have begun putting plants indoors to capture that essence. If you are working from home right now, one way to dissuade that feeling of boredom and being stuck is to spend more time outside.
