Who better than Sir John Lubbock, banker, politician, scientist, and polymath, to express his thoughts on the benefits of working outside? In his 1887 essay collection, The Pleasures of Life, Lubbock says, “Fresh air is as good for the mind as for the body.” Researchers have since expanded on this idea, revealing that the brain receives more oxygen for cognitive function when we’re outside. They’ve also discovered that breathing in “aeronutrients” from the outdoors may potentially replenish the gut microbiome, that exposure to natural environments helps regulate stress, that breaking out of a static indoor environment helps with creative problem-solving, and that sunlight and fresh air trigger the brain to release serotonin and dopamine, natural neurochemicals that promote emotional balance and feelings of happiness. With all the benefits supporting the outdoors, what are we all doing inside?
For anyone in an office tower, the answer is obvious. You’d need to schlep your computer and other materials down the hall, into an elevator, down many floors, over to the nearest green space, where you’ll need to find a bench, and from there, the challenge is in getting comfortable. At this point, you may be able to experience the benefits of working outdoors, but chances are the stress of that incredible journey will already have eclipsed the objective.
Here at Center 615 in East Nashville, our three-building coworking campus offers all kinds of convenient opportunities to work outside. You can grab a table on the rooftop patio, a table in the grassy courtyard, or find a quiet area in the Five Points neighborhood just down the road. With our flexible office spaces, eight meeting rooms, free parking, on-site gym with showers, 24/7 keycard access, and a delightfully dog-friendly environment, we’ve got summer outdoor spaces plus bonus amenities in spades.
Looking for a better setup than a makeshift home office? Not exactly loving the three-to-five-year leasing commitment at that downtown building where parking is at a premium (and the only window doesn’t even open)? Come see us at Center 615. If our small, medium, and large private offices, coworking areas, meeting rooms, kitchen, Google Fiber Wi-Fi, phone booths, and other indoor services don’t have you second-guessing pricey alternatives, our outdoor spaces will definitely convince you that a productive workday doesn’t have to happen in the confines of a commercial building.
Here are the top five reasons for getting work done outdoors this summer:
1: Sunlight Is Your Easy-Access Performance Enhancer
Step outside and your brain immediately shifts into top gear. Natural sunlight regulates our circadian rhythms, which govern our sleep cycle, energy levels, and ability to focus throughout the day. A few hours of sun can also boost your vitamin D levels, something no ceiling light can replicate—just be sure to slap on some SPF 30+, because too much direct sunlight isn’t good for your skin.
When working outdoors becomes part of your daily routine in summer, you’ll start sleeping better, feeling sharper, and relying a little less on caffeine. Our 1,400-square-foot roof deck is your sun-soaked perch overlooking the East Nashville neighborhood and iconic Stay Tuned mural (the kind of backdrop that makes even the most mundane workday schedule something you’ll look forward to tackling).
2: The Outdoors Offers a Lasting Mood Boost
Studies show that time spent outdoors lowers cortisol, the hormone most associated with stress. When you’ve got a full inbox plus back-to-back calls on the calendar, that’s not nothing. The best summer coworking spaces are the ones designed with outdoor access in mind. To that end, our courtyard, complete with lounge seating and a live music stage for after-hours entertainment, creates a mood-boosting open-air atmosphere where you can relax and breathe easy.
3: Open Skies Spark Creativity
When you move your work to a coworking space outdoors, that change of scenery alone is enough to spark open-ended ideation that leads to imaginative problem-solving and creative new ideas. Whether you’re drafting a proposal, hammering out a strategy, or just trying to cobble together an email, fresh air and the Nashville horizon do a whole lot more for you than four walls can. To really break things up, here at Center 615, we have a putting green! Step away from whatever’s stressing you out, sink a few golf balls, and come back to your laptop with the solution you were agonizing over, ready to go.
4: Networking Is a Natural Outdoor Activity
The best conversations always happen away from the main office or meeting room. When people step outside, they immediately relax. Their walls come down, greetings and small talk turn into substantial conversations, and professional connections form organically. An outdoor coworking space with thoughtful social amenities built in, such as the lawn games and shuffleboard at our Rec Hall and Courtyard, gives our members a reason to chat, connect, and build valuable business relationships.
5: The Best Views in East Nashville
Not all outdoor work environments are created equal. You can’t throw a picnic table next to a parking garage and call it an inspiring outdoor environment. The best coworking space Nashville has to offer should match the city’s energy. That means areas that are creative and community-driven. Our outdoor areas deliver exactly that, along with unobstructed views and the kind of atmosphere that reminds you why you chose to live and work in East Nashville in the first place. Work doesn’t need to be onerous. Change it up with time outside and even out the work-life balance.
Ready to trade your home office for a skyline view? Book your tour of Center 615 today and see how Nashville’s most community-minded coworking campus makes the workday worth stepping outside for.
