I really love being at home and the fact that I also get to work from home is a double blessing for me. I don’t have to worry about rush hour traffic, annoying work colleagues or having to queue to buy my lunch! I also love the fact that I can work in my pyjamas if I want to (although I have never done this!), nip to the shop or have a lie down if I’m feeling a bit tired (which I will admit to doing once or twice).
However, working from home is not all a ‘walk in the park’ – literally! You can feel quite isolated and lonely at times (with only the cat to talk to), your creativity can be stifled and as much as I like the view of my garden, it’s nice to have a change sometimes.
When you work from home you can easily become absorbed in working all the hours God sends and not switching off. Life is about balance and sometimes it’s difficult to find the balance between work and life but in order to remain excited about your work and also for the sake of your health, taking some time outside will improve your wellbeing.
We recently had some amazing Spring-like weather in the UK and the desire to be outside was very strong. Fresh air and a change of scenery are so important no matter what the weather.
So here are five reasons why I think it’s important for you to step outside if you work from home.
1. Get Inspired
There is nothing like a change of scenery to get your creativity flowing. When you spend time outside in different locations and with different people you will see and learn more than you would at home by yourself.
Even simply going for a walk around the block or grabbing a coffee at your local coffee shop can help to clear the mind and can be inspiring because you never know what you’re going to see and who you might meet.
I love being in London where inspiration can be found on every street corner. If you just wander the back streets you’ll find a city full of undiscovered sights, sounds and smells.
Inspiration is all around us – you just have to look for it!
2. Move That Body
We all know that sitting in one position for to long is detrimental to your health so for your own wellbeing it is vitally important that you get outside and move more. Not only will it improve your body but it will also improve your mind. Regular exercise really does help to boost your energy which in turn makes you more productive.
There have been plenty of days where I haven’t wanted to leave my office and would quite happily have stayed there all day, but as soon as I go outside and move a little I feel so much better and my mind is clearer. Also, we all need a top up of Vitamin D (don’t forget your SPF) so why not get outside and catch a few rays.
Even if you can’t get outside every day try to take regular breaks. Set your alarm and every hour get up and walk around the house and stretch a little. I find this really helps me to a) become disciplined in focusing on a task for just one hour and b) forces me to get away from the computer for a few minutes.
3. Get Dressed
I know it may sound simple but the obvious act of getting dressed and making an effort in your appearance can make a difference. I joked earlier about working in my pyjamas but for me making an effort with my appearance forces me to go out and mix with real people.
Of course there’s nothing wrong in being super casual at home but try and mix things up a little and try to schedule a few days where you know you will definitely have to leave the house and meet people.
I truly believe that how you look impacts how you feel and you don’t have to go overboard but for me a nice pair of jeans, jacket and some heels make me feel more confident and presentable. Topped off with a little lipstick and I’m ready to go!
4. Reduce Stress
We all know that a ray of sunshine, a burst of fresh air or listening to your favourite song can help to reduce stress. Being cooped up in an air conditioned office with artificial light and looking at a computer screen all day is not good for the health and can make us more – and not less – stressed.
Even though I wouldn’t call myself an outdoors person I have to say that whenever I’ve spent time outdoors breathing in some fresh air and meeting a friendly face, I always feel much better.
Spending time outside helps to lower your stress levels. We are not made to be indoors for long periods of time and with so much to see outside – why would you want to!
5. Meet People
I’ve said it a number of times now and I’ll say it again one of the key benefits of getting outside is to meet people. I can not tell you how many times I’ve been out and met the most amazing people (as I’m writing this I have just bumped into the actors Christophe Waltz and Cuba Gooding Jr!!!! What is that about?!!).
Even though I am more of a home person I really do love meeting new people and always try and offer a smile to a stranger. Whether I’m in London for meetings or in my local town centre I’ve come across some amazing people with some amazing stories.
As they say, ‘no man is an island’, and we are all here to help and support one another, so make an effort to get out and meet new people and old friends because you just never know where it might take you.
Technology has afforded us a life whereby we don’t even need to leave the bedroom if we don’t want to but it’s also easier than ever to work outside by working from cafes, hotels and parks.
Even though you can bring the outside inside, being outside really makes us feel better. We feel better in mind, body and spirit and as we approach Spring I would encourage you to find ways to spend more time outside. It will not only make you feel better but will also increase your productivity to!
