Stepping Out of the Office

If you're a programmer, then you have a very unique work ability that many people do not possess. But many times this goes unnoticed in our day to day lives. And this ability is a very simple one. A very rudimentary one if you will. It's like a stitch in your mind. Not really. But this ability is the ability to work from anywhere in the world. You can work in an office. You can work on a train. You can work in the rain while on a train. (On my list) And if your job requires any type of security clearance, then I am sorry, this post is not for you. Sorry again. But if you have a regular 9 to 5 coding job, then read on.

Most companies are willing to let their employees work from home, it is important to realize this. There might be an uneasy feeling at first, but once your work starts to get done, no one will ever question it really. And if not, then be on the lookout for a job that will give you this free-working nature. They're out there and they're looking. So read on to see where you can spend your days of work, instead of surrounded by the same 4 walls.

Work from home

It's where the heart is, or so they say. But don't just sit in your dining room table staring at a box of processed cereal while you do it. You'd be better off in an office at this point. Make yourself as an ideal a work space as you can. Turn half of your bedroom into an office space. Get yourself a standing desk

Remove the clutter

Nothing is more distracting than having to throw 4 binders, a bag of paper clips and a new laptop just so that you can find that pen, that's out of ink. So making sure that the clutter is kept from your workspace is key.

break the day up

Another common misconception is that you have to work sequential hours in order to enjoy life after. Sometimes you have work to do, and 4-5 hours straight make sense if you're on a roll. But many a time, working 8 hours straight will just wear you out. And by the time the "workday" is gone, you'll be too exhausted to do anything. So break the day up. If you have a report to do, finish it up and then go for a run. You'll find that the days will just get longer and longer the more you do this.

Coffee Shops

Coffee and programming are meant to live together forever. There's just something about the whole coffee process and the whole logical thinking process that blend well together. There's a common misnomer that many people make about this scenario however. They feel like they can only choose one particular coffee shop to work in. And they essentially turn this coffee shop into their new office space. They remember all the faces and they crave that same desk and if someone takes it, the whole day goes down the drain. And again the beauty of being a programmer is that you can work from anywhere.

So if you start to get that repetitive feeling at your current brew maker shop, then get on your Yelp and find a new one. But don't forget your old one either. I can't tell how many times I've gone back to an old shop to be greeted by "It's been so long!". Make new friends, sit in new chairs, and enjoy your surroundings while you do your work. And try different coffee. That one's important.

Shared Workspaces

There are many shared workspaces around the city you live in probably. And many offer daily rates for you to be able to partake in this thing we call work. I'm from Long Beach, CA and on my list of places to work from is WeLabs. For 25$ I can get a place to sit, work, and enjoy unlimited coffee. All while being surrounded by people on a similar path in life and super fast internet. This isn't something that I would probably do on a daily basis, but for sure once or twice a week would make the most sense for me.

The beach

Here's a cool thing about the beach. It's absolutely free. Unless you're visiting one of those fancy beaches where it's not. Stay away from those. But yes the beach. You can enjoy some sun, get some vitamin D, get away from the sound of cars and television for a while, and get something done. Again, not an everyday thing and definitely not a winter thing. But if you have weather and the time, pay the sand a visit, fire up the IDE and get a function out.

How about not working

If you follow many self-help circles, you'll hear something repeated throughout. And that is, if you're struggling with something. Then step away, give it some time, and come back when you feel better. Just think of it like this. Whatever project you have at work or in your personal life, there is a way to get it done. There's a path that you can follow to get to the end. You just don't know what that path is just yet. I've worked on projects where I've become frustrated for hours upon hours. Just to leave for a while, get a cup of joe, and return to a 2 line fix that solves the problem. A big part of working, is also the pauses in between. Pay attention to when you need those pauses.

I've been a work from "home" or anywhere really programmer for the past year roughly. And it is for sure a very different world to live in, as far as work is concerned. There isn't a clear cup path on how to do it really and everyone will enjoy it in their own ways. I wake up at 4-5am on average and by 9am I've gotten a fair bit of things done and am ready for a stroll to a coffee shop, to enjoy, not work. I can blog, I can prototype, I can get a report coded up, and I can do it from many different coordinates in our 3D world. So move your frame in the X, Y and Z axis and find the place that makes the most sense in the moment.