How Spending 23 Minutes Outside Can Change Your Workday

This article is part of Work Happier, a LinkedIn newsletter from Gretchen Rubin that considers how we can improve our work lives.?Subscribe today.

Great things can happen when we go outside.

Going outside helps us to appreciate the moment. We're more likely to be moving our bodies and getting exercise. We're often spending time in nature or at least taking a break from our usual activities. All these activities boost our physical, mental, and emotional health.

That's why this year on the Happier podcast , my co-host and sister Elizabeth and I challenged ourselves and listeners to "Go Outside 23 in '23" —that is, go outside for 23 minutes each day in 2023.

Now that I've been going outside for 23 minutes every day for six months, I've made a few observations:

• I always get a boost from going outside. No matter what I do with that time, no matter how bad the weather, I always feel happier if I go outside.
• If I'm wondering, "Should I bring a hat?" "Should I bring sunglasses?" "Should I bring an umbrella?" the answer is yes.
• As a New Yorker, I spend more time outside than I'd realized, because I'm so often walking to do errands or to get to the subway.

I've also learned that going outside helps me to work more effectively and creatively.

• If I'm stuck on a problem, if I take a break and go outside, I usually come up with a solution.
• Whether I'm feeling restless (too much energy) or listless (too little energy), going outside gives me the kind of calm energy that lets me work more productively.
• Sometimes, to keep going, we need to allow ourselves to stop. Counter-intuitively, if I'm feeling overwhelmed, taking time to go outside makes me feel more in control and gives me perspective.

Plus, going outside can help mitigate common work problems.

Whenever I'm feeling burned out, experiencing Zoom fatigue, or my ears ache from wearing headphones, going outside helps.

Smelling the air, feeling the wind against my cheek, rubbing my hand across tree bark, looking at the sky, watching the squirrels...these sensory experiences refresh me.

If you want to spend time outside but aren't sure whether you can stick to a daily 23 minutes, consider these strategies:

1. The Strategy of Scheduling : For many of us, putting something on the calendar means it gets done. Add your 23 minutes to the calendar like a dentist's appointment, or dedicate a particular daily time slot to outside time.
2. The Strategy of Accountability : Schedule time outside with a friend who is counting on you; walk your dog who will be so disappointed not to get the extra time outdoors; consider your future self.
3. The Strategy of Identity : Remind yourself of your identity, and your actions may follow. "I've always loved the outdoors," "I'm a bird-watcher," "I'm a creative person who needs time to daydream."
4. The Strategy of Convenience : To a hilarious degree, we're more likely to do something if it's even slightly more convenient. So keep your walking shoes by the door; have two dog leashes or two sets of earbuds so you can always find one; choose a time of day that works for you.

In future newsletters, I'll explore more ways to boost creativity and productivity by going outside.

So in the comments, let me know what's worked for you. How do you use time out-of-doors to make your work life happier, healthier, more productive, or more creative??

Click here to learn more about the "Go Outside 23 in '23" Challenge.

Updates & Resources:

• If you'd like help tuning in to your senses when you go outside, you might enjoy using my new Five-Senses Journal . In it, you write a notable impression for See, Hear, Smell, Taste, and Touch each day. This practice takes little time or effort, but is a great way to keep ourselves mindful of the world around us.