In the past few years remote work has become a popular topic. That only increased as more and more people started working from home during the pandemic. Now that we have a taste of what real work-life balance is we don’t want to let go of it.
I don’t ever want to go back to that crazy 9 to 5 pace. If you feel the same and you’re thinking of making a permanent change we’ve compiled a list of reasons why we think you should go for it. Here are our top 14 Benefits of a Backyard Office.
1| Leave the Commute Behind
One of the worst things about having to go to work in an office is the commute. Fighting through bumper to bumper traffic is never fun. Even if you’re riding the train it still eats a lot of your free time.
According to the Harvard Business Review, the average working person spends about 1.5 hours per day just driving back and forth to work. That’s lost time that you could be spending doing something much more enjoyable, like sipping your coffee on the back patio while you gear up for the work day ahead.
2| No More Commute Means a Lower Carbon Footprint
If you’re not driving your car to work, you’re not spewing carbon into the atmosphere. That’s good for the environment and the air that we breathe. So not only do you get more time back by not having to commute, you’re also doing your part to help the environment. That’s what you call a win win.
3| Reduce Your Monthly Expenses — Travel/office rent etc
One of the biggest benefits of working out of a backyard garden office is the amount of money you’ll save. You won’t have to worry about filling the gas tank every other day and you won’t spend as much money on incidentals like that daily trip to the coffee shop.
There are some initial set up costs for your backyard office, but it more than pays for itself within a few months. We look at how you can do it without spending a lot in our recent article How to Create a Backyard Office Shed On A Tight Budget.
4| Design Your Own Office Space
When you’re working at an office for a company you don’t have a lot of say about the decor. You might be able to have a small plant and maybe a photo or two on your desktop, but that’s about it.
When you choose to work at home in your own converted garden shed office, you make the decorating decisions. If you want a corner L-shaped desk in that shed office that’s up to you. Perhaps you prefer a standing desk that’s okay too. The point is, you get to decide how your office space looks and feels.
5| A Quiet Working Space and Professional Environment Helps Increase Productivity
By moving your home office into the backyard you can get away from the household noise. The family is nearby, but you still have your quiet space to work in a dedicated professional environment.
When you don’t have to listen to the dog barking and the kids playing video games it’s easier to concentrate. That means you’ll be more productive — maybe even more productive than you were after that daily commute to the traditional office. If you’re an introvert like me that’s definitely the case.
6| Privacy for Video Conferencing
Trying to conduct a video conference in a noisy house is a challenge. When you move to a backyard office you have a quiet and private space for all those important video calls with clients and partners.
7| Working from Home Means More Family and Personal Time
Work-life balance isn’t just another buzzword. It’s an important piece of any healthy daily routine. Striking the right balance is hard if you have to commute to an office.
The stress of driving through an hour of heavy traffic to get home for dinner can be exhausting. Instead of spending quality time with the family after dinner we’re more inclined to hit the recliner and have a much needed nap.
When you work out of a comfortable backyard office, you can be at the dinner table about 30 seconds after you finish work. You won’t be wiped out by that long commute and you can spend that quality time with the family instead of dosing in your chair.
8| You Set Your Schedule
When you’re tied to an office between the hours of 9 and 5 (or longer), that doesn’t leave a lot of flexibility for important events or family appointments. With an office in your own backyard you set the schedule. If you need to take a break to take the kids to a doctor’s appointment or just to take the dog for a walk you can.
9| Take Mental Breaks Whenever You Need Them
Sometimes a project can seem a little overwhelming. When you work in a regular office for someone else you just have to push through. You can’t just walk away for an hour ant take a mental break.
Working out of an office in your own backyard means you can take a mental break whenever you need one. Sometimes a 30 minute walk to clear your head may be just what the doctor ordered so you can concentrate on that latest freelance project.
10| Can Easily Fit in Exercise Time
Most office workers don’t get enough exercise. According to Science Daily, the average person spends about 5 hours and 41 minutes every day sitting at their desk. That doesn’t make for a very healthy lifestyle.
You can easily find time to exercise when you’re working out of an office in your own backyard. I go for 3 or 4 walks a day and find I still get more done than I ever did in a traditional office setting. It’s up to you whether you want to have a regular exercise schedule, or just fit it in whenever you need a mental break.
11| Increase Your Property Value
When you build a dedicated work space in your backyard for a home office you’re adding to the value of your home. There are a lot of people just like you that want to make that transition to working from home. Even if a potential buyer doesn’t have the need for a home office in the backyard, that extra space can still come in handy.
12| Can Be Used as a Shared Space
Another great thing about an office in your garden is that you can use it for other things as well. On the weekend it might double as a game room or you could use it for a change room if you have a pool as well. The space is yours to use however you like.
13| Saves Space in Your Home
Some people move their home office into the backyard out of necessity — they just don’t have the room for it in the house. If you don’t have an unused spare room, it’s a much better solution than just sticking a desk in the corner of your living room. By moving the office into that backyard shed you get to keep your work life and home life separated and you save space in your home
14| No Dress Code When You Work from Home
One other major benefit of working from home is that you don’t have to worry about a dress code. If you want to work in your pajamas you can, although you’ll probably want to change before that video conference with an important client. Personally, I still like the routine of dressing for my day at the backyard office, but the choice is yours to make and it’s always casual Friday!
