Take it outside

I wrote this essay at the picnic table on my porch. I was just working in my home office when I realized that it was a lovely day and there was no particular need to work inside. So I took my laptop out and enjoyed the view of tiger lilies and hydrangeas instead. I’m not sure it made this week’s newsletter any better, but it made me happier, and that’s a win too!?

When the weather is nice, all sorts of things can be done more pleasantly outside. If you’re up early, take your coffee outside and drink it there. If you’ve got a more casual phone call, or a virtual meeting where all you need to do is listen, you can venture out for a little walk. If I’ve got some downtime, I like to sit on the hammock with a magazine or book. If you’ve got little kids and you’re just counting down the minutes to bedtime, going outside can add a bit more energy to what is often a challenging time of day.?

Fresh air is a known mood booster, so going outside can add the equivalent of a reset button into a day. To be sure, not all time outside is pleasant (I hear south Florida in summer is brutal!) but perhaps the early morning or evening hours might be nice, and folks in these sweltering climates might spend all January outside instead. Whatever works is great — and a little change of scenery is always nice.?