Image: Coffee Geek/Pixabay
One of the things that most entrepreneurs and freelancers struggle with, is the mundaneness and loneliness that comes with working from home. The idea of being stuck on a laptop for hours on end can not only be very lonely, but it can also affect ones mental, emotional or even physical health. It’s not healthy to stare at a screen for hours on end and yet so many of us do this on a weekly basis. The good news is we can make our working lives more fun, refreshing and more enjoyable if we change our environment every now, shake things up and look for new places and new ways to work.
If you are searching for new places to work to make your entrepreneurial journey less overwhelming, less stressful and more fun then this article is for you, check out the ideas that I have listed below:
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
Co-working Spaces:
One of the ways that I love to shake things up in my business is working at co-working spaces. It’s such a great way to get out of the house and get into an office environment where you get to be around other entrepreneurs and free-lancers just like you who are all working on their businesses. I use a place that has lots of plants everywhere, desks and chairs along with sofas and an indoor-swing, it makes me feel cosy and relaxed, I can work for a couple of hours then take a break and go on the in-door swing. When I work from home I can sometimes be tempted to leave my work and do the dishes or I end up spending too much time on Social Media. But in a co-working space, everyone is typically very focused on work so it makes me feel less distracted and more committed to completing my work activities. Signing up to a co-working space and going a couple of days a week or a few days a month could be a great way to relieve stress and increase your productivity.
Coffee Shops:
I used to go to a coffee shop at least once or twice a week and I truly recommend this. They are often such calm, relaxing atmospheres that most entrepreneurs enjoying working in. I love the smell of coffee beans, the sound of people talking in the background and light music while I get my work done on my laptop. I always notice that I get my work done effectively when I am at a coffee shop as the change of environment makes a difference. I order a green tea, or a hot chocolate, I order a croissant or a toasted sandwich and I open my laptop and I productively work for a few hours before heading off, I always feel like I have achieved most of my weeks tasks in just a few hours when I work at my local coffee shop.
The Beach:
Yes, the beach! My favourite memory of working on the beach was in Bulgaria, The Black Sea, Golden Sands. I was staying at a Resort for a Conference and I just remember being on the sunny beach, feeling so relaxed, soaking up the vitamin D that came from the gorgeous sun and feeling so at peace while on my laptop laying on a chair with my towel, sunshades and my flip flops. Working on the beach is a great way to decrease your stress and increase your relaxation levels. What I love about the beach too is the fact that most people on the beach generally seem happy, upbeat and high vibe (which boosts my mood and my happiness as a result). If you have a beach near you or if you are travelling somewhere sunny anytime soon be sure to work on the beach whether that’s journalling or using your laptop and truly allow yourself to take a moment to soak up the beautiful sun while listening to the sound of the waves.
“Our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” — M. Scott Peck
Your Very Own Office:
Are you ready to take the big leap and have your own office environment away from your home? Are you in a position where you can invest in your own office? If you have been pondering over the idea of moving into a new office this is a great idea to consider. Sometimes using a coffee shop or working in a co-working space now and then just isn’t enough. Sometimes you still feel distracted, scattered or overwhelmed even if you are getting out of the house a few days a week. If you are feeling this way it could be the time to truly begin to start the process of looking at offices. Write down some ideas of where you would like to work, what your budget is and why you want to have your own office. Clarity is the key. Once you know the what and the why you can confidently prepare for this upgrade with more ease and flow.
Have Person Meetings (at Different Locations):
Instead of booking all of your meetings and coaching calls with clients, your staff or colleagues on the phone, on zoom and on Social Media. Consider having some of meetings in person instead to shake things up in your business. There is more powerful than face to face interaction. You could host in-person VIP days for a group of clients, in-person meeting with your staff at a hotel meeting room, you could have an in-person coaching call with your client at a coffee shop (or at your office), treat your team to a buffet meal at a restaurant to thank them for their hard work. This is a great way to strengthen your professional relationships and get out of the house. Over the summer I met with a few of my entrepreneurial friends and one of them ended up signing up to work with me, I believe that this happened because we had a chance to truly discuss what it would be like to work together while chatting in a restaurant and walking around rather than settling for the same old thing (a phone call).