Home Working and the Importance of Fresh Air
With the move to home working for a lot of us, the shackles of home schooling and limited daylight hours at the moment, the brief and only opportunity for some fresh air on the daily commute, or whilst rushing out for a butty at lunch has now been removed for much of the population.
It’s all too easy to stay glued to our desks and just nip for a bowl of soup from the kitchen at lunch, but this sort of routine isn’t good for our bodies, or our productivity, and with home working here for the foreseeable, and Lord have Mercy on us - home schooling, avoiding the development of bad working habits now is going to be critical for our health and wellbeing.
Fresh air doesn’t just feel good, but it has major health benefits too. It’s now more important than ever to get in some ‘outdoor’ time every day. Read on to find out why it’s so beneficial, and how you can make sure you get some. Oh, and by the way…it’s free.
The benefits of fresh air –
More energy and better mental focus
Fresh air contains more oxygen, so when you’re out and about, as long as you’re breathing, the oxygen levels in your blood go up! Higher oxygen levels mean more of it circulates to your brain, which helps you feel energised and improves your ability to concentrate and remember information.
Improved happiness and reduced anxiety
A winning combination for anyone, especially those us trying to work and home school. Free, fresh air helps promote the production of serotonin which improves happiness levels and reduces anxiety.
Clearer lungs
Indoor air, especially in poorly ventilated rooms, has less oxygen than fresh air. Exposure to more fresh air and thus oxygen, causes blood vessels in your lungs to dilate, which improves cleansing and tissue repair within them.
Lower blood pressure and heart rate
Every cell in your body needs oxygen to function. When there isn’t enough to go around, your heart needs to work harder to make sure that what’s available goes to the right place. A few deep breaths of oxygen-oozing fresh air into your body, means your heart doesn’t need to work as hard, so it slows down and your blood pressure lowers.
Improved digestion
It isn’t just the oxygen that helps our bodies, the simple act of stopping work and getting outside does too. Eating at our desks while we work means the body diverts blood flow from our digestive systems to our brains, and you don’t want this. You need the oxygen to supply your stomach and intestines with vital blood flow instead, helping digestion.
How to ensure you get a daily breather –
So you understand the benefits of fresh air and you have good intentions to get some, but that isn’t always enough to get you outdoors. I know it’s easier said than done – we’re all busy, distracted and dealing with curved balls throughout the day, but one of these simple hacks might be all it takes for you to get the fresh air injection that you’re needing:
Schedule a walk in your calendar
Check your diary every morning and schedule yourself a slot for a power walk to clear your head. If you’ve committed to this first thing, there is less chance that the day will run away with itself leaving you no time to fit one in.
Pop a Post-It note on your desk or computer
Sounds archaic in this technological age, but often, it’s simply just that we forget to do it because we’re busy. A simple reminder in front of your face could make the difference between doing it or not, allowing you to grab that opportunity for 10 minutes here or 30 minutes there in between meetings.
Get up 30 minutes earlier everyday
Obvious I know, but it’s only 30 minutes and the benefits you’ll reap at the onset of your day will be huge. Throw your joggers on and get a quick walk or jog around the block. Put a cap on and you don’t even have to worry about your hair. That fresh air injection will give you a serotonin boost allowing you to start the day more energised, happier and calmer.
Night Walks
If you can’t fit one in during the day, go at night. Since the onset of home schooling, I’ve resorted to a socially distanced night walk with a friend around my local area. It gives me something to look forward to, and it definitely helps me switch off from the mania that is home working versus my own job throughout the day.
Conclusion -
Fresh air can definitely improve our wellbeing, making us happier and more relaxed generally, and giving us a sharper, clearer mind allowing us to be better at our jobs.
You’ve been meaning to do it I know, but why not just start now, schedule a walk into your diary for tomorrow, or set that alarm 30 minutes earlier, then relax in the knowledge that you have taken the first step in doing things differently, and for the better this year.
If you or anyone you know is buckling under the pressure of home working or home schooling, please share this article with them. It’s happening to more of us than might be letting on, and if this article makes one person feel better, it was worth writing.
Sources -
Advancedneurotherapy.com
Liwli.com