Working from home is a whole lot of fun. It is super convenient, you have most everything you need, and it doesn’t require getting dressed – there are so many days that a t-shirt and running shorts are my work attire 😉 . While I love working from home, sometimes you just need to not-work-from home (aka: you get cabin fever!) Up until now I didn’t have the best laptop for travel/ working in other places and I am super partial to my desktop because it has a huge screen (it is like 24 inches) and my comfy chair. But recently we purchased a Surface Pro so that I can have a powerful computer on the go and it is so helpful to get switch things up.
Last week Bruce and I broke free from our home office and camped out at a coffee shop for the afternoon. We haven’t done that in awhile and we both knocked away quiet a few emails and things on our to-to list. It was a good change of scenery. I also made sure to throw in a couple of tubs of noosa in my bag for us to have an afternoon snack. I find that mid afternoon slump ALWAYS hits me hard and an afternoon snack helps re-energized and refocus! We love noosa in our house, it is a unique combination of sweet and tart taste plus a thick, velvety texture! It is also Colorado local with wholesome ingredients. I found it at our grocery store a couple years back with a sign that said “Colorado Proud” and I picked one up that day to try it. We’ve never bought any other yogurt since!
It was good for us to spend the afternoon working in a new location – switching things up helps your brain get out of the same rut and encourages new activity. Also, working out of a coffee shop isn’t only for those of us who work from home. Switching things up is important when you are at an office too. If you can get away for an afternoon to work in a new location, here are some tips for your time working not-from-home:
- Pick a Location you Know: I’m all about finding new coffee shops and trying new places but this is not the time for that. Meet a friend for coffee in a new place to scope it out before deciding to work there. When you are going out for the morning/afternoon/day you want to make sure you know the space will be a good working environment.
- Find Outlets: I always gravitate toward a place with an outlet just in case. It is best to make sure your lap top is charged before you go out but being near an outlet is always a good idea.
- Bring Snacks: Like I mentioned above, make sure you bring a snack like noosa! You don’t realize how much you snack on food from your snack drawer or walk down to your kitchen. You don’t want to leave and hour into working because you got too hungry. Plan to camp out for awhile to really be productive.
- Pack What you Need: Make sure you know yourself in coffee shop environments. I find the background noise of people and the music playing in the shop comforting. It helps me get my work done. Bruce however always brings headphones to listen to his own music to focus better. If you need headphones, make sure they are packed. Also bring your planner (or a notepad) and some pens so you can write things down while you are out. Fight the urge to over-pack as well. You don’t want to break your back or bring too much stuff that you are overwhelmed. Know the three things you are planning on working on and make sure you have what you need for that!
- Buy Something: I feel like this should already be expected, but I am still throwing it out there. If you are going to a coffee shop or restaurant and working at a table you need to buy something while you are there. Grab a coffee or an iced tea to sip while you work. It is the respectful thing to do – you are taking up a table and using their internet.
Getting out of the office and into a coffee shop can really be just what you need to get focused and get out of your working rut. What are some of your favorite places to work?
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I almost always do my blog work from home, but on the rare occasion when I go to Starbucks, I find that I am SO much more productive. Clearly I should be doing it more often 😉
Yes! It is just good to switch things up sometimes!
Currently, we are down to one car so I am for the most part forced to work from home everyday unless I want to wake up at the crack of dawn to take my husband to work and sit in traffic. No thank you! But we have a huge back yeard with a greenery area for our hannock and then we have lounge chairs so I spend most of my time out there trying to get work done. On another note, I LOVE your photography style. I’ve noticed it evolving over the years and I just wanted to let you know you are doing an amazing job!
Yes! I get that. We also have only one car but we both work form home – so we just go out together! And yes on just getting outside – that so helps!
THANK YOU also for your encouraging words! I have been working on it a lot and evolving it. I am now at a place where I feel more consistent and that I have found more of a style. So this comment is just so encouraging to me!!
YES!
I am currently trying to find new places to do work around our town! I love my desktop but sometimes you’ve just got to get out of the house to be more productive!
It is true. You just get stuck in your rut and daily distractions or working at home!
I loved this post Elizabeth! Don’t you love how a simple visit to a coffee shop to get out and tackle your to-do list, can also act as it’s own post? That’s the best, haha. I too love being able to find a place that’s so aesthetically pleasing for my creativity, and that also caters to my taste buds, lol.
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Yum! I’ve always wanted to try that yogurt but haven’t yet. Also, you’re so right. Working from home can totally give you cabin fever! Getting out of the house every now and again is pretty helpful 🙂
You need to try it!! soooo tasty! And yes!
This is great advice! I have a goal of “work-from-not-home” freedom in one year! I am just looking into online work now while staying home with a small daycare. I need some coffee shop head space 🙂
Yes! It really helps to occasionally switch things up!
This yoghurt looks amazing! I would love to try it! Also, these are really helpful tips! I get the cabin fever, often! haha
Yes!! hahah! You should try noosa! It is the best!
I was just talking to someone earlier about how hard it is to separate work and home when you work from home! Loved this post!
Yes! Oh man – that is soooo true!
I’m only able to work from home one day a month so it’s a dream of mine to be able to work from home everyday. I know the grass is always greener on the other side but I would be so much more comfortable working in my home office than a cubicle.
AH! Yes! It really does have it’s perks! I would never go back to my office job but no matter where our working environment is, a little switch up every now and then is good for the brain!! haha!
Love this! I need to do this more often! There is a coffee shop in walking distance of my house, called the Black Cow, I should stop in a do some work there!
You so should!! Walking distance is so fun too because then you can also get a fun walk in!!