At this point in the year, your normally cushy home office starts feeling like a prison. And that makes sense. When the first 65-degree day comes after months of gray skies, freezing temperatures, and heavy coats, it’s like a personal invitation to slow down and get outside.
In other words, freelancers and creators definitely suffer from “spring fever.” However, the deadline doesn’t care about the cherry blossoms blooming and how warm the sun feels on your skin.
Fortunately, here are some tips for enjoying the season without getting distracted and still getting things done.
1. The “Golden Hour” Schedule Shift
During the winter, we work whenever there is light out. And that’s understandable. As a traditional or seasonal approach to labor, “we work whenever it’s light out” reflects daylight hours rather than fixed, artificial schedules. But springtime is a time for flipping the script.
- The early bird sprint. Get your high-brain-power tasks done between 8:00 am and 11:00 am (editing, strategy, client calls).
- The mid-day siesta. Rather than taking a 20-minute lunch break at your desk, take a full 90-minute break when the sun is highest. Relax on the porch, take a long walk with the dog, or enjoy lunch al fresco.
- The sunset finish. During the evening, you can complete administrative tasks and chores that require little energy.
2. Take Your “Mobile Studio” Outside
You don’t always need a triple-monitor setup if you’re a creator. Determine which tasks are “sun-friendly.”
- Brainstorming & scripting. You don’t need a desk for these. The park is a great place to write in a notebook (analog – no screen glare!).
- Voice memo drafting. While walking, use your phone to “write” your first draft. You can transcribe it later. This gets your body moving and your mind working.
- The tech check. A matte screen protector or a high-brightness setting is recommended if you’re going to use the laptop outside. Don’t forget that your laptop hates the sun just as much as your skin does. So, stay out of the sun to prevent overheating.
3. Spring Cleaning Your Digital Workspace
You may need to air out your digital “office” just as you would your house.
- Audit your subscriptions. Check out the tools you paid for in January and haven’t used yet. Get rid of the bloat.
- Desktop purge. Spend 15 minutes organizing your computer desktop if it looks like a digital junk drawer. When your screen’s clean, your head’s clear.
- Update your bio. This is a great time to refresh your “About Me” page or portfolio. A new season brings new energy.
4. Set “Weather-Contingent” Goals
Make the most of the forecast. Spring weather is notoriously unpredictable
- Cloudy days = deep work. Whenever it’s overcast or raining, that’s your “Power Day” to focus and knock out your most important work.
- Sunny days = maintenance. If the weather forecast says it will be 70 and sunny on Thursday, front-load your week so that Thursday can be a half-day. It’s actually motivating and rewarding for me knowing I’ll take an afternoon stroll on the beach.
5. Create a “Transitional” Routine
The hardest part of working from home in the spring is the blurred line between “being at home” and “being at work.”
- Open the windows. If you can’t get out yet, let the outside come to you. You will feel less stagnant and more energized when you breathe fresh air and hear birds chirping.
- The “commute” walk. Take a 10-minute walk around the block at the beginning and end of your day. It tells your brain that “work day” has begun or ended, so you can finally relax when the laptop is shut off.
The Bottom Line
If you work for yourself, you have the freedom to enjoy the world, so don’t be the boss who won’t let their employee (you) go outside. Take a break from your creative block by moving your “office” to the porch for an hour, and remember that Vitamin D is one of the best cures for creative block.