Spring Fever: Taking Your Office Mobile

As nicer weather emerges, the urge to get outdoors is difficult to fight. Ahh...but work! You still have to bring home a paycheck and balance responsibilities and projects with the urge to go "play", so to speak. Lucky for us, there's an answer. Move for your office outdoors! In an age when almost anyone can work remotely, it's fairly easy to take your work with you to an outdoor location, even if it's just for an hour.

Not only are you satisfying your urge to escape the office, you're actually doing your mind and body good. Plus, your work will benefit! According to an article from Entreprenuer.com, spending time outside turns off the sensors in the brain associated with stress response. This allows for greater focus, improved memory, more creative thinking and an overall increase in productivity.

Whether you work for a large company, are an entrepreneur or are somewhere in between, here are a few tips for taking your office on the go this Spring:

1. If you cannot go far, find a place on your work campus that will allow you to set up shop and still access the company's WiFi. Pick a shade tree or outdoor spot where computer glare won't be an issue. Plan ahead with a blanket or folding chair, if needed.

2. Choose your favorite restaurant or coffee shop patio and settle in. This is my personal pick. Not only does it get me outside, I enjoy treating myself to some yummy eats while working in nice weather. Mobile hot spots are sometimes necessary, however, so be sure you know how to set yours up and connect. I find off site Wifi can sometimes be unreliable if dozens of other people are connected at the same time. So, consider this when deciding on a location.

3. Don't forget to bring along essentials like ear buds for taking conference calls, cell phone chargers or power banks, lap top power cords, pens, and a notebook.

Not all professions allow for working outdoors (teachers and healthcare professionals, for example) but grabbing a few minutes of sunshine and fresh air over lunch may be an alternative option. According to Harvard physician, Eva M. Selhub, co-author of Your Brain on Nature, being outdoors for even a couple of moments is enough to stimulate your brain, lower cortisol levels and improve immune response.

The message is clear - getting outside during your day is good for you. If you can mix work with nature, just do it!