Five ways to enjoy the summer and stay productive

This week has seen some of the best weather yet this summer, but as I sit writing this piece it's drizzling outside and the rest of the week isn't going to be much better by the look of it. That's just typical of the British summer, but hey, let's remain optimistic that the sun will return and prepare to make the most of it when it comes.

Here are my 5 top tips for getting out there and keeping productive whilst enjoying the sunshine.

1. Camp out in a coffee shop: find a coffee shop with outdoor seating and free Wi-Fi. You'll find many small establishments offer this, as well as some large chains, although some of these like Starbucks are still charging. You'll notice people working from coffee shops all year round... it's one of my favourites.
2. Work on your patio: I just love work on the patio; dealing with email and reviewing documents. Laptops can be hard to see in bright light, but a shady corner is equally pleasant. You may need a power socket if you expect to spend a long time there, and if your Wi-Fi signal is weak, buy a "network range extender".
3. Get mobile Broadband: you can buy laptops with built-in mobile broadband these days, otherwise ask your Moble Service Provider for a Dongle. Now you can work anywhere there is a mobile signal, which widens your options for working remotely from parks, riverbanks and beaches to name a few.
4. Alter your working day: When the weather's good, try waking up with the birds. Get up early, start work early and knock-off early to catch the relaxing warmth of those later afternoon rays. And, of course, you can still keep in telephone and email contact via your iPhone or Blackberry if you need to.
5. Get a Virtual Assistant: If you use a Virtual Assistant or Virtual PA, then it's easy to take that impromptu al fresco lunch in the knowledge that she is handling your calls, dealing with any urgent tasks and generally keeping things going in your absence... make the most of the service, you deserve it!

It's not often we see the sun here in the UK, so make the most of it whilst you can. If only the sun would come out, I'd be off to Bar Angeli for a cappuccino and a few emails like a shot. 

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