6 Workspaces To Try If You Don't Want To Work In An Office

If you’ve come down with a bad case of office fatigue, you’re definitely not alone. These days, the term "Out of Office" has taken on a whole new meaning due to more and more individuals opting to work "remotely" (or basically, anywhere that gets a wifi signal). According to Global Workplace Analytics, roughly 3.7 million Americans have jobs that allow them to work from anywhere. And with technology advancing, we can only expect this number to soar. The benefits of working outside the office, even just occasionally, go far beyond perks of having the option to stay in sweatpants all day: Work-from-anywhere positions can boost productivity, incite a higher employee morale, and broaden an employer's talent pool.

If you're lucky enough to work remotely, even if just for one day a week, you probably don't take advantage of the many different locales you could be making your temporary office space. If you’re wearing out your welcome at your neighborhood coffee shop (or forking over your hard earned cash for refills that very much aren’t free), don’t worry: you’ve got options! We've partnered with Microsoft Surface Laptop to locate some out-of-the-box spots for you to get down to business.

Coworking Spaces

Coworking spots are ideal for freelancers, consultants, or startups that may not necessarily have a physical space to claim as their own. But, more and more, they’re also a convenient change of scenery for people who work in an office full-time. Cities like San Francisco and New York have no shortage of coworking real estate, and many of them are stocked to the brim with luxuries you won’t find in every office (think iced coffee on tap, a fully stocked beer fridge, and comfy decor). So, the next time you want to work at your own pace — or just avoid your loud coworker’s marathon conference calls — opt for a trial membership and temporarily switch up your work environment.

Hotel Lobbies

Craving a free taste of glamour? Set up shop in the lobby of a nearby hotel. Whether it’s a major hotel chain or a more boutique spot, there’s nothing like feeding off of the bustling energy of people coming and going. Bonus? The wifi is probably stronger than it is at the mega coffee chain next door and, hey, you might even sneak in a complimentary breakfast! (Kidding).

Your Gym

Why miss out on an opportunity to consolidate your day a little? Plenty of gyms and workout facilities offer free wifi for members and guests (you know, so your boss can find you even while you’re sweating it out on the elliptical) or even dedicated coworking spaces. Harness those post-workout endorphins — I know I'm not the only one who has her best ideas on the treadmill — and get ahead on your to-do list.

The Bar

It might seem counterproductive to head to the bar to get work done, but hear us out. Absent any midweek, midday sporting events, you’ll more or less have the space to yourself. You can order delicious bar bites for lunch, get in good with the bartender, and you won’t be even one minute late for happy hour.

Outside

It’s kind of criminal that when the good weather finally hits, we’re holed up inside. Beat the freeze of your office AC, grab some SPF, and find a spot to work outside — a park with public wifi, a restaurant or coffee shop with an outdoor patio, or even your front porch. With the lightweight portability (just 2.76 lbs.!) of a Microsoft Surface Laptop, you could be working poolside mid-morning, and reaping the benefits of wifi at an outdoor cafe by noon.

From a Rideshare

Running from meeting to meeting or rushing to an event after work? No one said you can’t get stuff done while in perpetual motion. If there were ever an upside to rush hour, it’s being able to be productive from the back of a car.

This article is brought to you with the help of Microsoft Surface.

The brand new Microsoft Surface Laptop was released this June. The Surface Laptop features the following:

• Ultra-thin and light laptop fits easily in your bag.
• Four tone-on-tone color combinations and sleek, elegant design complement your personal style.
• Enjoy a natural typing and trackpad experience, enhanced by a luxurious Alcantara® fabric-covered keyboard.
• The power to do what you want, with all-day battery life.
• Experience beautiful images in true-to-life color on the vibrant 13.5” PixelSense™ Display with touchscreen.
• Invisible immersive Dolby® Audio™ Premium sound that comes directly from the keyboard, with no added bulk or grills.