Practical Considerations for Working Outdoors

Feeling a little cooped-up? Then consider spending some time working outdoors, as the fresh air, vitamin D, and ambient sounds can positively impact your productivity and well-being. According to Harvard physician Eva M. Selhub, working outdoors, "turns off the stress response which means you have lower cortisol levels, lower heart rate and blood pressure and improved immune response."

If you've not worked outside before, here are some practical considerations to improve the experience:

• You’ll need WiFi, so consider a place outdoors within reach of your router or near a guest network. If your WiFi network doesn’t reach your balcony or backyard, consider purchasing a repeater.
• Comfort is important, so choose a chair that provides back support and consider sitting on a folded blanket or flat pillow if it has a hard seat
• Glare can be a real challenge, so use your laptop while sitting under a patio umbrella or an awning, or place your chair with its back against the wall of your house or apartment to block the sun from hitting your screen
• If power isn’t readily available, consider running an extension cord appropriate for outdoor use to the location you’d like to work
• When participating in an online meeting from outdoors, use earphones and stay muted when you're not talking so that others on the call aren't distracted by wind or other outside noises
• As enjoyable as working outside can be, remember not to sit for too long. As we say at Herman Miller, “Your next posture is the best posture” (keep moving!)
• Finally, if you live in a high-rise and don’t have access to a space to use your laptop outdoors, then consider adding a brief walk to your workday to think creatively about solving key challenges at work. Thinking is working too!

And in case you are wondering, yes – I wrote this post while working outdoors. What are your best tips for working outside?