While it is officially springtime, the season has yet to make a permanent appearance where I live. We got glimpses of it last week, with warmer temperatures, melting snow, and oodles of oozing mud. This week has been rather cold and we even got some more snow earlier in the week. I’m dreaming of spending more time outdoors, and since I work from home that means that I have the freedom to do my work anywhere I choose. I’m sure that I am not the only one who is looking forward to warmer weather, so I decided to round up some tips for taking your work outside.
The computer is at the heart of many home-based businesses. If you want to be able to take your work outdoors, you will certainly need a laptop or a netbook. Not all laptops and netbooks are created equal when it comes to being suitable for working outdoors. Computers that have glossy screens make it impossible to see in outdoor light. Some laptops and netbooks are available with matte screens, which enable the user to see the screen in outdoor light. If a new laptop with a matte screen is not in your budget, don’t despair. Even with a matte screen you may still need an anti-glare screen cover, just as you would for a glossy screen. DayVue is the name of one company that I found that makes screen covers, and I’m sure that there are others that you can choose from. Setting up your work station in a shady area also helps with visibility, as well as preventing sunburn. Speaking of sunburn, if you would like to work outdoors be sure to protect your skin with sunscreen and/or protective clothing.
You probably need internet access to do your work, so how do you take that outside with you? If you have a wireless network in your house, its range may extend out into your yard a bit. You may have to move around a bit to find a spot with good reception. For greater freedom, you can get a USB modem or MiFi. I have a USB modem, and I love it because I can get internet access anywhere that I have cell phone reception. I initially got the USB modem because internet options at my address were very limited, and the other available option (satellite internet) that did not require a land line phone was very expensive. In a pinch, you can probably even tether your smartphone to your laptop to get internet access, but this uses up your phone’s batter fairly quickly so I would not rely on it as your normal mode of accessing the internet outdoors.
There are also some accessories that, while optional, can improve your outdoor work experience. Laptop stands hold your computer at a comfortable angle and some even have built in fans to help your computer stay cool. Backup batteries can help you avoid the need to stay close to an electrical outlet. The coolest outdoor accessory that I found is a solar laptop charger – many of the solar chargers on the market are actually also laptop bags so you get two products in one. I love the idea of being able to use green energy to power my laptop. However, the solar chargers are a bit pricey so I may not be able to get one as soon as I would like to.
Will you be taking your home-based business outside this summer?
Image by taliesin on morguefile.com