Recently I bought a iMac and a Mac Book. Aside from the fact that I travel a lot, I bought the Mac Book so that I would have the ability to leave my home office and work elsewhere. Getting out of the office can wonders for helping creative block, meeting new people, giving you a change of scenery, and much more. Getting out of the office is something I probably don’t do enough of and I’m sure many of you are the same way.

As full time freelancers it is easy for us to go days without ever leaving our house. The worst part of though, is we get so used to it. Sometimes I go a week or so without ever even getting in my car. If it wasn’t for my dog there might be weeks where I never even stepped outside.

It was when I bought my Mac Book that I decided I would start spending one day a week working out of the office. There are several coffee shops, hot spots, and parks with wireless access nearby. So, I really had no excuse for getting off my fat ass and working out of the office.

Spend One Day a Week Out of the Office

One day a week might not sound like much, but you would be surprised at just how much it can do for you. Just having that one day where you get out of your day to day routine can really energize you. It is almost like getting a mini weekend in the middle of your week.

Since I started doing this regular day away from the office I have been going out for the better part of every Wednesday. This hump day outing is nice because it seems to prevent me from getting worn out by the middle of the week. In fact, getting out for that one seems to clear my mind and helps give me new perspectives on things.

Reasons to Work Away From Home

Aside from just being able to get out of the house, there are a number of other reasons why working away from home from time to time is a great idea. Check out these reasons:

Clear Creative Block
When you follow the same routine day in and day out it is easy to put on creative blinders and not even know it. You get so caught up in you work and your workspace that there is nothing around to inspire you. By simply moving outside of your standard workplace you can really get your creative juices flowing. It really is an amazing way to clear your head.

Networking with Others
If you start to frequent the same wireless spot or coffee shop every week, odds are people will get to know you and what you do. As a result, you are setting yourself up for some potentially powerful word of mouth marketing. Just think about how many other small business owners corporate types that girl at the coffee shop talks to everyday. She is bound to come across people who are working on their website, starting a blog, need a logo, etc. You’d be surprised how much information people share with baristas.

Getting Away from Distractions
If you have a lot going on at home with your family or roommates, getting out of the office for a day can really up your productivity. There is no reason you should have struggle through your work day working with distractions every step of the way. Doing so will only result in you being irritated and not getting everything you want done. By working away from your office you will be free of those distraction and be able to concentrate much better. You might be surprised at just how much more you get done with out all of the distractions.

My Final Thoughts

I spent the last year working from a laptop at internet cafe in Costa Rica. It is only now that I am back in the states working from a home office every day that I realize how much I miss working out of the office. That one day a week really does amazing things. Even though Im working when I am out of the office it feels almost as though I am just playing around on the computer all day. It really is like a mini weekend in the middle of the week.

Your Thoughts

How many of you out there already do something like this? WHat made you get started on working out of the office? How often do you go out? What are some of the benefits you have experienced with this?