Recess Grows Up

July 15, 2010
Written by: Julie Bosche, Filed in: Corporate Wellness Programs

Is your morning walk from your car to your office the only time you see the light of day?

If your exposure to the world beyond your office has been reduced to glimpses of the parking lot through the window next to the printer, it’s time to get out.

We’re not advising anyone to quit their jobs, of course … just to find time during every workday to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine summer has to offer.

Simply being outdoors on a nice day is a natural mood booster. All the better if it gives you a little break from your desk and allows you to clear your head and replenish your energy.

Better still? Using the time to get some alfresco exercise.

Studies have shown that exercising outside improves overall health, and that even just five minutes in nature can trigger those benefits.

Encourage your employees to get out of the office and soak up the sun for a few minutes each day. Not only will it help them feel better, it’s a great way to entice those who ordinarily don’t exercise to engage in a little physical activity.

Help get them going:

If you’re lucky enough to work in an office building situated near a body of water, a green space, or a woodsy trail, take advantage of it.

Leave work worries at your desk and instead spend your time outside the office focusing on the moment at hand.

Grab a coworker (or your iPod, if you prefer to work out solo) and go for a brisk walk during your lunch break or when the late-afternoon slump hits.

Even if the best you can do is a lap or two around the parking lot, your body and your mind will benefit from the activity. And you’ll get a jump on your daily exercise quota!