How can I do computer/paper work outdoors this summer?

May 30, 2022 10:43 AM

I have become increasingly in need of OUTSIDE TIME. Especially as the window in my apt suck. I do not have a balcony so I'm limited to outdoor public spaces. I have tried working on either computer tasks and/or paper tasks and they've been troublesome. Looking for ideas.

I've tried to do this in parks a few times and it's been okay, but little hurdles. For one, rarely is there a nearby power outlet. Though I do find my laptop does last reasonably long. Public bathrooms are a pain (but doable), but many were not open during covid. Some of the green spaces I've tried to work at as well don't have bathrooms, and at least last summer, many had not reopened yet re:covid. (I have to pee often.)

Screen glare is a big one. Even in the shade, seems to be a problem (though better in the shade than full sun.) Have a macbook air 2020 M1, if that matters say for brightness settings. I have t-mobile which can and does work as a hotspot, but it seems like coverage is spotty, especially in parks and near the lakefront (I live in Milwaukee, WI, close to Lake Michigan), even though those are some of the best parks. :/

Paper documents, be it books, notebooks, or printed materials are better for the sun, but if it's at all windy, can be difficult. My only thought I haven't tried thus far is rocks to weigh things down.

I'm trying to stick to free outdoor spaces, as I can't really afford a regular coffee or meal habit so I can't take advantage of the outdoor seating at coffee shops and cafes right now. I've got a lot to do this summer that is self guided though so it works for picking my own space outside if I can figure out the hurdles.

And for reference, I have adhd, and good god, I'm likely to blow it all off if I can't also get outside, hence trying to figure this out! I just get weird and surly and sad when I can't go outside. It wasn't always this way, but I had a lot of idle time during covid and spent a lot of it outside and it appears to have stuck.

posted by [insert clever name here] to Work & Money (19 answers total)

For corralling your papers, this is my absolute favorite clipboard.
posted by phunniemee at 10:50 AM on May 30, 2022 [2 favorites]

https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/best-e-ink-tablets-for-2022/ might be of interest.
posted by flabdablet at 10:51 AM on May 30, 2022 [2 favorites]

+1 to flavdablet’s suggest of e-ink screens. I have a kindle and it’s far better outdoors than my laptop and phone. Its battery also lasts weeks, so no charging worries while I’m out and about.
posted by A Blue Moon at 11:18 AM on May 30, 2022

The Supernote tends to fly under the radar a bit. It's got a few more features than the reMarkable. Downside is they're very delayed on shipping with the lockdowns in China.
posted by sewellcm at 11:29 AM on May 30, 2022

Libraries, museums, and universities might offer some decent outdoor spaces near bathrooms and sometimes even free wifi.
posted by advicepig at 11:31 AM on May 30, 2022 [9 favorites]

Did you see that the OP "can't really afford a regular coffee or meal habit."

Buying various items might not be the solution.
posted by NotLost at 11:37 AM on May 30, 2022 [2 favorites]

I'm in some rvliving/vanlife/digital nomad groups where outdoor workspace is part of the desired setup, and a lot of people hoard a cardboard box of appropriate size to put their laptop in. You can make one out of foamcore from the dollar store if you wish, and some people use a (collapsible or not, might be useful for carrying all the stuff) laundry basket and a towel.

A clipboard can help with papers, or the biggest of your books can be the paperweight most of the time. Store all your reading material inside a bag laid on its side with the opening facing you, so that whatever's not in your hand/on the clipboard is easily reached but not so wind-susceptible.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:04 PM on May 30, 2022 [12 favorites]

For the screen glare... can you get one of those camping chairs with a canopy eg? Or maybe you want a beach tent of sorts... (and if the beach tent has sides, it could help with the wind as well). White (or light colored) towels or sheets could be used to diy a tent in a suitable location with a convenient tree branch). There are also privacy screens that are antiglare.

I think universities are going to be your best bet for "public" study spaces though. Especially with respects to having outdoor accessible power outlets. Said power outlets may take some tracking down... but a good place to start might be the outside the buildings for engineering/ computer science departments. Another option *might* be hospitals with a garden space.
posted by oceano at 12:21 PM on May 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

I worked on one (writing) project partly outside last year...I got a free printer on Craigslist, printed out dozens of pages of interviews and other research, and then used a hole punch on the paper and kept it in a binder. For this particular project, it was also helpful to look at everything printed out rather than on the screen, and it was definitely possible to read/take notes outside.
posted by pinochiette at 12:56 PM on May 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

Got any friends with nice, covered front/back porches who are out all day at a job? Seems like an arrangement like that could be economical, with wifi and bathroom. I'm lucky enough to have a small front porch and I love WFP.
posted by moonmoth at 12:59 PM on May 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

I've been thinking about this too and came across a suggestion yesterday to invert screen colours to work in strong sunlight - this is the Windows method that I'm going to experiment with and here's the Macbook Air version.
posted by humph at 2:35 PM on May 30, 2022 [2 favorites]

As for working with paper, I always have a couple of bulldog clips to hand, the best low tech method of taming paper in windy conditions.
posted by humph at 2:41 PM on May 30, 2022

Large rubber bands can help hold book pages and clipboard papers flat.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 3:40 PM on May 30, 2022

YMMV but I’ve always found that the Big Three burger chains all make it pretty easy to duck in and use the restroom without being seen by employees. I also pee frequently, and while this is more of a road trip hack for me, I would expect that it would work for you too, as long as you can find a location near somewhere you’d like to hang out. Gas stations are also usually pretty chill about using bathrooms without a purchase, although whether you want to do that will depend on the individual gas station.

My brother joined Planet Fitness while he was renovating his bathroom. It’s $10/month for unlimited bathroom usage. Not nothing, but certainly less than you’d pay if you were buying a coffee every day.
posted by kevinbelt at 4:44 PM on May 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

Might be worth it to take a tour of your local public libraries to see if any offer outdoor seating areas. That will help with wifi and bathroom access, plus it's free to go inside and plug in for awhile if it gets too bright/windy/etc. I've noticed that many libraries in the midwestern town I grew up in have added cool outdoor seating nooks in the past few years.

In terms of making yourself comfortable in other outdoor areas, I found a little beach chair and a portable beach umbrella made computer-ing outdoors much more feasible for me. Check discount and thrift stores for cheap ones, and especially look for ones that have a drapey side that makes a partial tent/windblock. Alternatively, look for picnic shelters in parks or heavily shaded areas under lots of tree cover so that you are less bothered by glare. Picnic shelters sometimes have electricity, too!
posted by luzdeluna at 6:28 PM on May 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I’m thinking of Pere Marquette park with the gazebo on the river off of State. It’s right by the Milwaukee County Historical Society which is open to the public, and the park has Wi-Fi, so as long as you can snag a spot under the gazebo I think you’d meet your shade, internet, and bathroom needs. Or honestly the park has plenty of trees, if you can finagle a picnic table into the shade you’d be good, just need to adjust throughout the day which might be easier said than done.

Small chance the gazebo has power since they perform music there.

And if you don’t know about the other parks with Wi-Fi… I can’t help you because apparently there isn’t a list online but here’s some of them and maybe more of those could be good locations.

Are you on Reddit? /r/Milwaukee would probably have good suggestions for how to do this. They’re a friendly bunch with decent moderation.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 9:22 PM on May 30, 2022 [2 favorites]

You should scope out the NM tower as well. The outside gardens are public and have decent opportunities for shade, and since there’s a “museum” inside I assume you can walk in for a bathroom? I always walk around there after hours so I’m not sure how that works.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 9:36 PM on May 30, 2022

Response by poster: I had no idea on these NSAID. What an eye opener and now I have lots to explore. And I didn't think of NM, even though I love their outdoor space.

I think universities are going to be your best bet for "public" study spaces though.

My university has closed the union for the summer because why not? Renovations, but also cuz meh, screw the summer students? Their wifi doesn't extend very far outside the buildings AND t-mobile sucks on campus. The times I have TRIED to work outside there. Its iffy at best. I'm sure I haven't hit all the outside areas, but I have a lot of them.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 9:54 PM on May 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

That stinks, I'm on campus at a Big 10 school one state over and our academic buildings are locked for summer, but libraries and the more public buildings remain open, like the union and museums.
posted by advicepig at 2:30 PM on June 1, 2022 [1 favorite]