After a winter spent indoors, fresh air feels like a small luxury. The cold snaps and early sunsets kept us inside through spring, but the season has finally turned. Time to step outside.
Still working from home? There’s no rule that says the typing and the endless “reply all” threads have to happen at your desk. Remote work has its upsides, and moving your setup outside for the summer is one of the better ones.
Below are a few simple ways to move your daily screen time into the open air and build a spot that keeps you focused. Anything beats that stiff desk chair, right?
1 Define Your Space
It starts with a space you actually want to sit in. Grimy, weather-worn furniture won’t do much for your focus, so bring in a few outdoor pieces that read as a real extension of your home. This setup nails it, with plenty of room to spread out and get comfortable. And that hanging chair? Hard not to love.
2 Use Your Dining Table as a Desk
Miss the structure of a proper desk? Your outdoor dining table can stand in for one. Just check that the chairs hold up for a few hours of sitting and that the height works for your laptop.
A bigger surface helps, too. There’s room to keep everything within reach: a cold drink, a snack, a portable speaker, whatever gets you through the day.
3 Have Multiple Seating Options
Sometimes a new view is all it takes to reset your head. Keep one quiet corner of the yard as your go-to, and carry your laptop out there whenever the indoor office starts to feel stale. This little lounge spot works for all of it: soaking up some nature, buckling down, or stretching out for a long break. We all need those.
4 Get Comfy
Comfort is usually what makes or breaks the whole idea. If there’s nowhere soft to land, you’ll be back at your desk within the hour. Add a cushioned seat to work from, then layer in the small things that keep you there: a tray, a side table, and plenty of plants to lift the mood.
“Transforming an outdoor space into a work-friendly area does not have to be a huge or expensive lift,” Smith explains. “Focus on finding a few core pieces: comfortable seating, a desk or table, and an umbrella for shade.”
5 Take Cover
Wherever you land, make sure shade is part of the plan. Baking in full sun while you pull together a big presentation is nobody’s idea of focus, and your screen washes out the moment the glare hits.
Direct sunlight on computer screens and smart phones can be damaging and can cause eye strain due to glare. For a permanent or semi-permanent option, consider a pergola kit or a whitewashed, weatherproof wooden table.
There’s no shortage of ways to stay on task and catch a little sun this season. Bring the laptop outside, take a deep breath of fresh air, and start something new in a space that actually feels good to work in.
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