If you’ve been reading prTini for a while, you’ve probably read a lot about “work aways.” If you’re new to the blog, here’s a quick recap: For at least half a day, once a week, each person in our office is required to work somewhere other than the office. Coffee shop, library, park, home — wherever they’ll be most productive. Taylor, Team Geben’s resident planner, organizer and list-maker, is a huge fan of work aways (seriously, it’s amazing how much she can get done in one day!). Today, she’s sharing her tips to maximize time spent out of the office:
Post by: @TaylorRayOrsbon
Find your spot – Figure out both the time and place you find yourself most productive. For me, this changes on almost a daily basis. I can go from coffee shop hopping one day to to couch surfing the next. Don’t forget, the time of day is just as important as the place. I tend to do my most creative thinking early in the morning, but if I simply need to plow through the “stragglers” on my to-do list, my work away is better served in the afternoon.
- Set boundaries – The easiest trap that many fall into when working away, especially when working from home, is that they never … stop … working. You can wake up at 7 a.m., make your way directly from the bed to the couch, and in a matter of no time, find yourself still glued to your laptop at 10 p.m. If you’re working away, set some boundaries for yourself and plan out your working hours. Know when you want to log in and when you’re going to log off. Then, do it!
- Take advantage of your commute – For those of us in the “burbs,” a 30-45 minute drive into work in the morning can be soothing on a slow day. On a crazy day? It’s your WORST nightmare! So, use your work away to “reclaim” your commute. Use the time you would normally spend driving to and from the office to catch up and get your work done without burning out. What would normally be a ten-hour day in the office could be an eight-hour day from home or somewhere nearby.
- Turn on the lights – Starting your work away at the crack of dawn? This is one time I advise you to forget about the electric bill and crank up the lights. I am NOT a natural morning person, so when I do my work away early from home, I turn on every light around me. (I’m talking everything from my kitchen and living room, to the bathroom and hallway lights.) It forces me to wake up and get to work, while also making me feel like I’m not the only one crazy enough to be up and writing a news release at 6 a.m.
- Don’t forget to take a break – When you’re working in an office, there is almost always something to break up the day – grabbing lunch or coffee with co-workers, getting pulled into a last minute meeting or brainstorm, etc. However, when you’re working solo, you’ll find that those helpful distractions are few and far between. Plan some breaks for yourself. Start out at one of your favorite coffee shops for breakfast and then venture down the street to a café around lunchtime to finish out the day. Or, make sure you power down your computer for 45 minutes to eat your lunch. Whatever it is, find time to give yourself a brain break here and there – no matter where you are.
- Never stop exploring – My last and final tip: Never stop discovering new places where you’ll find yourself more productive. The single most amazing part of working away is that it’s always customized to you. If working from a coffee shop isn’t your thing, get outside and explore a nearby park. If it’s the dead of winter, try out a library. It can even be as simple as sitting in a new spot of your own home. No joke. I once sat in a new chair in my living room and it changed my life. Well, my month anyways. The point is, both you’re mood and what you’re working on are always different, so figure out what you really need to get the job done now and just go with it!
Taylor is responsible for developing and implementing traditional and digital PR strategies for several Geben Communication clients. With multiple planners and to-do lists typically in-hand, Taylor also specializes in project management and helping clients plan and execute creative campaigns. Connect with Taylor on Twitter (@TaylorRayOrsbon).