Move The Office Into The Garden

The office as we know it is changing. While many companies maintain the 9 to 5 routine, more and more businesses are introducing flexible measures. For instance, some employees can enjoy semi-flexible starting times, where the team have a slot of one to two hours to begin their working day. As a result, those who start earlier can leave early, for example. Ultimately, for commuters, the addition of semi-flexible times reduces congestion on the roads, by offering an alternative to the traditional 5 to 6 PM rush hour.

To enhance their positive impact on the lifestyle of countless employees, companies have been gradually embracing remote working options by allowing members of their staff to work from home. Nowadays, almost one-third of the workforce work from home at least one day per week, while some employees work extensively from home and spend a day per week or less at the office. On the roads, the change has positive consequences: less congestion, less tiresome commute, less stress for employees. However, behind the scenes, the boost in home-based position has brought additional pressure to the household.

Indeed, with British homes being naturally tiny – they’re among the smallest in Europe –, fitting a home office space isn’t always easy. Many professionals need to make do with the corner of the kitchen table or even a desk pushed against the wall in the living room. It can be difficult to have a spare room you can transform in becoming your workplace away from work. Consequently, it’s not uncommon for home-based employees to struggle to maintain their productivity and concentration in a crowded and disruptive environment. Ultimately, your home is a place of relaxation, entertainment, and family bonding. Building a productive home office in a busy space can be challenging. But have you considered taking your work into the garden?

You gain more room to think

According to Dak Kopec, author of Environmental Psychology for Design, a micro living space can increase the risk of stress at home. Indeed, your home is a safe haven; but when the interior feels crowded and forced in a small space, the peaceful haven becomes your stressful hell. Needless to say, the same principle applies to a tiny home office that has been squeezed under your roof. If you’re repurposing a nook in the lounge into a strategic workplace, you might feel exposed to the rest of the household. The lack of privacy when you work can affect your thinking patterns and reduce your concentration. Additionally, you feel trapped in a tiny space, which can also interfere with your creativity. When you’re trapped, it’s challenging to come up with grand ideas. But, when you bring your office outside of your home, you can have more space to set a comfortable environment and claim your private working area.

You can create an inspiring space

It doesn’t matter how much effort you’ve put in creating an inviting interior style. Your home office is typically the last room to receive attention. More often than not, employees who work from home from time to time don’t invest in the decoration of their home office. Long-term home-based workers and professionals are more likely to decorate their space. However, the employee who spends only a handful of days a month at home can’t justify the need for creating an inspiring space. As a result, ideas can feel dull and flat. But when you create a home office pod in your garden, decoration becomes an integral part of the project. You can start by keeping your space natural, using timber supplies for the walls and the floor, for instance. Ultimately, when your office is in the garden, bringing natural elements to the decor can help to increase your sense of space by making you part of the environment around you. You can also add a playful touch with a botanical style, using patterned cushions on your chair, for instance.

You reduce distractions to a minimum

Telecommuters have a challenging time trying to keep distractions at bay. While in the office, distractions tend to come from only one factor, aka your colleagues, things can be different when you work from home. If you have young children, for instance, you’ll have to juggle their needs and your work schedule. Kids are likely to require your attention in the middle of the day, regardless of whether or not you’re on the phone with a client. Additionally, you can also get distracted by your surroundings. If the house is a little messy, you might be tempted to clean instead of tackling an urgent project. Besides, for those who work in the living room, the vicinity of the TV can be damaging too. Alternatively, your garden office offers a distraction-free environment. You are out of the way of your friends and family – so less likely to be interrupted by your partner or your kids. And you don’t have to worry about housework or your favourite TV show. You can focus 100%.

You reduce your stress levels

It’s easy to cool down when all you need to do is to open the door and take a stroll in the garden. Whether you’re trying to bring clarity to your ideas or you are under pressure, your garden pod brings you closer to nature. Surrounded by plants and wildlife, you’re less likely to struggle with high-stress levels.

You can create a healthy workspace

Last but not least, a desk job is one of the most dangerous jobs. Sitting for an extended amount of time can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and even cancer. But, when you work from home, you can transform your workplace with regard to your health. Standing desks are a fantastic option. However, they can be problematic inside your home, when you need to create a working area in a limited space. Bringing the office outside gives you more room to play with. If you’re worried about not getting your 10k steps a day, you can even turn a treadmill into a standing desk, which will ensure you can remain effective and healthy all day long.

Home offices are a thing of the past. It’s now time to embrace the many advantages of a garden office, which can unleash your creativity and productivity to new levels.