Change the Pace
Get Out of the House
Have you ever been sick and stepped outdoors for a few minutes? Did you notice a
slight improvement in how you felt? The great outdoors can truly improve our
dispositions with just a small amount of interaction. On those “perfect days”
when the temperatures are pleasant and the weather is agreeable, you might just
find your spirits rise with a little outdoor interaction.
Though your
business may require you to work indoors, find excuses to get outside. Spending
time outdoors has many advantages for our work productivity and overall
well-being. Are you looking for an excuse to visit nature during business hours?
Check out some of these ideas:
Take your work outside.
Laptop
computers come in handy for our busy lifestyles where we are always on the go.
Now with wireless services available, your excuses for getting out of the office
for convenience to a computer are limited. Go to a park or the backyard and sit
in the shade while you work.
Meet someone for
lunch.
Interacting with others is important to maintaining communication
skills and staying abreast of current topics. Visit with a client, chat with a
family member or catch up with a friend during the lunch hour. Consider taking
lunch out on the patio – whether it is from your home office or your favorite
restaurant.
Join a walking group.
There are other business
owners or professionals in your area who might want to get out a little for some
exercise and socialization. Have you considered creating a walking group? You
and some of the people in your area can meet during the lunch hour several days
a week to walk and to visit. In addition to getting some exercise, you have the
opportunity to bounce ideas off one another, discuss the day’s events and relax
from the daily grind.
If you would like to enjoy some time out of the
office or the home, consider some evening or weekend activities that take you
outside.
Get some exercise.
Make it a family outing to get your
heart rate going. Ride bikes in the country or on the bike trail, play a game of
soccer or football, take the dog for a walk, or participate in a fun run. Choose
an activity that appeals to the whole group!
Enjoy the
weather.
Sometimes a day of R&R is required for taking a break from
our busy schedules. Escape to a relaxing chair outside and enjoy the crisp air
without the humidity. Otherwise, yard work offers a relaxing means to
beautifying your outdoor retreat and enjoying the pleasant temperatures.
Decorate your patio.
Make sitting on the patio a little more
interesting. Bring plants, trinkets and outdoor furniture outside to create a
desirable place of escape that is close to home. Putting together a fun,
relaxing environment on your patio or backyard will make it more inviting when
you need a sanctuary.
Throw a fall party.
Celebrate the change
of seasons with a party or gathering. Entertain friends and family outside for
an afternoon of festivities before taking the party indoors once it gets too
cool outside. Warmer days and cozy nights are part of experiencing the pleasures
of fall.
Spending time outside helps rejuvenate your spirit and inspires
physical activity. Take your next get together outside to enjoy both some
socialization and good weather. Adopt some activities to get your body moving.
Clear some of the clouds in your mind, and step into the refreshing outdoors.