There are numerous advantages to working from home. One advantage is that they could still work from any place with an internet connection. As a result, you will be able to relax and enjoy the beautiful outdoors rather than being cooped up in an office the whole day. When working remotely outside, though, it involves some preparation to set oneself up for success. With the advent of the lovely autumn season, many of us may wish to escape the home office and head to the patio - yet using a laptop outside has its drawbacks.
While being detained indoors due to lockdowns can be frustrating, if you are fortunate enough to have a garden, working from it will provide you with a welcome change of environment and a breath of fresh air. Those of you who have attempted it will realize that it is not as simple as it appears. Here are some tips to combat the most common issues that come with working outside.
Keep your internet stable
Your Wi-Fi can only cover a certain distance from your router. We always recommend placing these as close to a central spot as possible in your home, but that recommendation becomes obsolete when your house also comprises a garden. While working in your garden, there are three ways to get around this:
Using a powerline adaptor, you may extend your Wi-Fi range.
Create a mesh network and place one of the discs at the back entrance.
Using a mobile router or tethering your Android or iPhone, connect your laptop to mobile Wi-Fi.
In times such as these, the desire to have the best equipment is likely to be trumped by the urgency to find anything that would do the job and is both in stock and ready to ship soon.
Get organized
Your office supplies, files, and anything else you might need is all within easy reach in your home office. When you make your workspace transportable, this isn't the case. Consider what kind of task you'd like to perform and what you'll need to do before heading outside. Even if your laptop is completely charged, you never know how soon several tabs can deplete the battery, so bring an auxiliary charger with you to keep you going.
Choose a shady spot
Outside, in the shade, is the best place to work with a laptop. It's excellent for your computer and for you to be comfy and covered from direct sunlight that can make it difficult to see what you're reading or writing (plus it keeps you cool).
Keep your laptop battery powered
When working remotely, it's common to leave computers connected almost all of the time, but this is unhealthy for their batteries in the long run. If you have an ultraportable laptop, likely, the battery wasn't designed for all-day use, to begin with. There are two options if your battery simply won't last long enough:
Buy an extension lead
Take advantage of a laptop power bank
If you choose the latter option, keep in mind that your laptop should be able to charge via USB-C. You'll also need to understand the output of your conventional wall charger so that you can make sure the power bank can recharge your laptop.
Stay comfortable
You likely have an ergonomically suitable and comfy chair to sit in and a workstation to work at when you work at home. When working outside, though, you may prefer to sit on a lounge chair or perhaps in the grass rather than in your office chair. While you don't have to bring your office chair outside, if you're going to work outside, you'll still need a chair and a desk to stay comfortable and avoid cramped legs and sore back.
Consider using a laptop shade
A laptop shade will conceal your laptop from intense light. Did you know that spending a lot of time in direct sunlight can harm your laptop? If you leave your laptop out for long durations during the day, the screen may become irrevocably cracked or shattered.
Keep your laptop well-ventilated
In use, all electronics, especially thin and light devices like commercial laptops, will become heated. Only be concerned if the temperature rises to the point where it is unbearably hot to touch. Among the alternative solutions are:
Get out of the sun and into the shade, ideally somewhere with some wind or breeze.
Stop using the laptop for a while and let it cool completely.
Make sure there's plenty of ventilation by setting it on a flat surface like a table, desk, or better yet, a laptop stand.
Dust should be removed from the air vents.
Check to see whether your laptop is working harder than it ought to by checking the open programs and processes in the background.
Look around ahead of time
You found a nice bench on your morning exercise around the park that was fairly peaceful and private, and it felt like the ideal spot for you to push through your report. When you return at noon, though, the playground is swarming with toddlers from the adjoining playground. If at all necessary, scout your area ahead of time to see if it's a good place to work.
Stretch every 30 minutes
The human body could only sit for so much time before it begins to complain, and all of the sitting you've been doing has put undue stress on your behind. Getting up regularly is helpful since it keeps your circulation circulating and prevents you from experiencing any unnecessary pain during the day.
Wear sunglasses or a hat
When working outside, you must always wear sunglasses to shield your eyes from the sun's glare. If it's a bright and sunny day, use sunscreen to fill up any gaps in your headwear so that the sun doesn't injure them anymore.
Use a laptop stand
If you intend to work outside for an extended period, you should take a laptop stand with you. It will assist you in avoiding overheating difficulties with your laptop. It will be easier to maintain air circulating around the laptop with it propped up for optimum cooling. This is extremely important if you want to work outside in a hot climate. You'll be less likely to hunch while working with the stand, which can lead to neck and shoulder pain. It'll be easy on the eyes, too, with the height set just for your field of view.
Recommendation: Flexispot Portable Laptop Stand Docking Station TD1
Beat the glare
Face the sun and angle your laptop screen toward you to reduce glare, or choose a shaded area under a tree to reduce glare. You can also get an anti-glare screen protector to further cut down on some of the sun's rays. Alternatively, you can adjust the brightness of your laptop's display. Bear in mind that because you'll be using more energy, your laptop battery may drain quickly.
Keep yourself hydrated
Drink lots of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. It's surprising how difficult it is to detect dehydration when all of your other body functions are behaving normally. Fill up your favorite water bottle before leaving the house, so you're set for the day's work.
Conclusion
Working outside can be a brilliant remote work benefit and a real treat, but it also comes with its own set of obstacles. It's critical to consider your laptop and how you intend to use it when working outside to put yourself in the best possible position for success. To guarantee that you are a productive and effective employee, do the suggestions listed above.
