Many of us tend to make up for lack of focus or overall productivity by working more hours. However, this does not actually fix the lack of productivity. It simply drags out your work day, and possibly even decreases your overall ability to be productive. So, what should you do when you find yourself struggling to get things done? The answer might be right outside your door, literally.
Now that it’s Summer, making a routine out of getting outside might seem more appealing. But, since most of us spent the rainy Spring adjusting to a new at-home work routine, it is also easy to get stuck in our ways and forget to enjoy the great outdoors!
Read on for 5 Great Benefits of going outside, all of which will help to boost your productivity!
5 Benefits of Going Outside
1. Decreases Stress
Taking a break from your daily routine to go outside can be calming and take your mind off of all the stressful things you may be focusing on. This benefit of spending time outdoors has been researched in a study done by Science Direct. Read more about the study HERE.
2. Positive Mental Health Benefits
Aside from general stress relief, going outside can help to ease anxiety, improve mood and even provide relief from depression symptoms. Read more HERE about nature’s role in treating mental health.
3. Improves Concentration
Do you experience that late afternoon mental fatigue? It turns out that taking some time to go outside can actually help to restore some of your brain power. Taking a walk can help relax your mind and improve focus. Read more HERE about boosting concentration and memory by going outside.
4. Boosts Creativity
Taking a 25min walk has been proven to relax your brain and improve your ability to problem solve and think creatively! Want more details? Click HERE for more information on how nature can give you a much needed creativity boost!
5. Immproves Immune System
Going outside can have many physical and mental health benefits including improving immune system functions and even reducing risk for many diseases. Read more about the health benefits of spending time outdoors HERE.
So, how do I “Get Outside?”
This might seem like a silly question to some people. But, if you don’t currently have outside time built into your busy schedule, it can be challenging to start – just like anything new!
The good news is that there are many ways you can start going outside more often!
1. Break Time
If you work in a traditional office setting, you may find yourself using your much deserved break time to fill up your waterbottle or get a snack from the kitchen. Maybe you don’t even leave your workspace and simply catch up on iPhone notifications or chat with your coworkers. These activities are all important to your wellbeing and taking any sort of mental break can definitely improve your productivity. However, try doing these same things outside!
If you work from home, its possible you are not even giving yourself the right amount of breaks, and it can be even more difficult to leave your workspace since your workspace is also your home. But, your brain and body still need a break! Schedule yourself break times throughout the day where you can take a walk, or even just step onto the back porch to drink your iced coffee.
2. Modify your existing routine
Do you eat breakfast? If you don’t, you should. (Check out Shake Up Your Wake Up for reasons why, and some great breakfast ideas!) Even if you just consume coffee or tea to start your day, you can do it outside! Try going outside after you wake up, enjoy your coffee or breakfast in the sun while you browse the news or social media. It might make you feel a little more refreshed and ready to start your day off great!
This concept can be applied to lunch as well or any of your regular scheduled activities that don’t require being indoors. As mentioned above, I recommend going outside on your regular breaks, even if it is just to look at your phone!
3. Exercise
Exercising in any form can improve your wellness (and therefore your productivity!) so why not combine it with going outside for even more benefits?!
I like to start my day off with a 30min walk around my neighborhood or a quick run in a local park. Exercising outdoors is not just limited to walking, running, biking, and hiking. There are plenty of other things you can do to keep your body and mind healthy. Try bringing a yoga mat out onto your porch for a daily yoga session, stretching, or even a bodyweight workout. I personally recomend 30 Days of Yoga with Adrienne, check out her YouTube Channel HERE to find some great guided yoga sessions for all levels!
4. Make it social!
If you feel like you might need a little extra encouragement to start going outside more often, try doing it with company! Plan a daily walk time with your family, neighbors, or even just your dog! Sometimes when we take any form of time outside alone, it becomes easy to continue thinking about work or other stressors. But, if you are with other people, outside time transforms into an even better stress reliever and allows you to spend more time focusing on the people you love!
5. Outdoor Sports & Hobbies
You definitely do not need to be an avid hiker, camper, or mountain bicyclist to incorporate outdoor time into your schedule. But, these activities are all great ideas for fun ways to go outside more often! Even if it is not during your work day, outdoor activities can still have a positive effect on your productivity and overall wellbeing. It’s also a great way to try something new, improve skills, or create a shared hobby with someone you want to spend more time with.
Think about planning something this weekend. It could be a day trip to a beach, a local hike, biking somewhere with your family, staying overnight at a campground or a remote place in the woods, or any other great idea you come up with!
Did you know? Going outside in nature actually has even more benefits than just leaving your home in a city setting. Click HERE for a more in-depth understanding of nature’s unique way of helping us stay happy and healthy!
