Spending more time outdoors often provides mental and physical health benefits, but not everyone has the option to take their jobs outside. Even if your work necessitates staying indoors, there are plenty of ways to enjoy nature throughout the workday. Here’s how to get your dose of the outdoors while on the clock.
1. Get (and Care for) Office Plants
Research shows that employees who work in offices with windows or indoor plants report higher job satisfaction, according to the American Society for Horticultural Science. Add some succulents, pothos, or snake plants to your working space to bring a bit of the natural world inside.
Don't have a green thumb? Use an app for taking care of houseplants if you need a little help with your leafy friends. For many people, nurturing plants provides a peaceful break during the day.
2. Take a Daily Walk Outside
When possible, use your lunch break or other spare time to venture outdoors. Don't worry if your workplace isn't located near a park or other green space. Even a quick walk outside in an urban environment can help improve your mood, according to the American Psychological Association.
Use the best walking apps to plan your route or find a new nearby path to enjoy. You can choose to track steps or distance over time, or simply enjoy an open-ended stroll. It's a great chance to move around a bit while getting a dose of sunshine, and you'll likely return to work feeling refreshed and ready to go.
3. Set Up Your Workspace by a Window
It sounds extremely simple, but gazing out a window at a green space may help reduce anxiety and improve feelings of job satisfaction, according to research in Landscape and Urban Planning. If possible, take a break and stare out a window for a few moments while working.
In addition, taking 20 seconds to look at something at least 20 feet away every 20 minutes or so is helpful for preventing eye strain. Called the 20-20-20 rule, it's a beneficial way to overcome screen time exhaustion. Focusing on something far outside your window is an excellent way to give your eyes a break and turn your attention to the beauty of nature.
If your workspace doesn’t include a window, then enjoy some green space virtually with Explore livecams or National Park Service webcams. These streaming videos let you peek into a bird's nest on the other side of the world or check out the current weather in Mount Rainier National Park.
4. Listen to Nature Sounds
Even when you can’t enjoy the sounds of nature in person, listening to recordings of natural sounds can help reduce mental fatigue and increase your sense of well-being, according to Frontiers in Psychology. Whether you like birdsong, rain sounds, or even whale songs, listening to these recordings is often a relaxing way to bring a bit of the natural world to your headphones.
Cue up a nature video on YouTube to enjoy while you work and appreciate the outdoorsy background noise. The Cornell Lab Bird Cams are a lively choice, and watching the bird's antics throughout the day is another excellent way to let go of stress.
For a mobile option, use a peaceful nature sounds app while you work to help calm stress. Sometimes the sounds of a babbling brook or ocean waves are all it takes to transform your workday for the better.
5. Display Nature-Inspired Art
Simply looking at photographs of nature scenes for a few minutes can help reduce stress levels, according to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Hang some outdoorsy posters or pictures in your office, or change your desktop wallpaper to display gorgeous nature imagery. Whether it's your own photo of a memorable hike or some cool landscape paintings, artwork is one of the simplest ways to bring the outside world into your workspace.
Download an app like Nature Relaxation On-Demand to enjoy immersive natural scenes and audio during your breaks. Check out the redwood forests of Northern California, a snowy scene in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park, and aerial footage of the Guadeloupe islands. The films are scored with gentle music or natural soundscapes, and it's easy to get lost in the scenery and relax.
Download: Nature Relaxation On-Demand for iOS | Android (Subscription required, free trial available)
Boost Your Mood by Bringing Nature to Your Workspace
Even when your duties require an indoor working environment, bringing elements of the outdoors into your workspace can have great benefits for your mood and even job satisfaction. Art, videos, and apps can all help you feel like you're connected to a soothing outdoor space.