The last time I wrote a blog post about working from home I discussed my tips for staying productive in your home setting. More than a year and a half later, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss all of the available options when working remotely. When cabin fever sets in while working from home for an extended period of time, it's challenging to be productive even when a lot of work is coming down the pipeline. Luckily, there are many alternatives to your home office or couch that you can take advantage of.
- Starbucks Coffee: I'm assuming everyone who's anyone already knows Starbucks provides free Wi-Fi to paying patrons. Leave the house for a few days during the week and post-up at a local Starbucks. From personal experience, getting to know my local baristas has been very beneficial; they even know my order when I walk through the door. A drawback to this option is table availability. Most locations are steaming with patrons consistently throughout the day, so you may have to sacrifice a spot next to an outlet for a few hours.
- Food establishments: When Starbucks is packed, I'll sometimes head over to a local Panera and hop on its Wi-Fi. Since Wi-Fi rules the working world, many local eateries around town offer free Internet connection as well. McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Applebee's, Bob Evan's and even Buffalo Wild Wings all offer Wi-Fi. Essentially, you could go to a different restaurant every day of the week to work and eat depending on your preference. Need to pick up some groceries while you're out? Whole Foods also offers free Wi-Fi to make your day even more convenient. A good rule of thumb, if the establishment sells coffee, they more than likely have Wi-Fi.
- Co-Working Spaces: There are many spaces around Columbus that offer a co-working environment for people who work remotely. These spaces have the look and feel of an advertising agency and are made up of remote workers, free-lancers and entrepreneurs. You can choose different monthly plans depending on how many days a week you want to occupy a space. These spaces provide your own desk, conference rooms, ideation spaces and plenty of opportunities to network.
Working remotely does not have to mean working from home. There are plenty of options to get over your cabin fever and get you out into the work force. Find what suits your productivity needs most and switch it up from time-to-time to stay in a good mind-set.
