I’ve got a secret to reveal. I like to work outside.
When I was old enough to bike to the library but not much else, I spent my summers reading books. I would find an inviting space outdoors, either in a tree or on a blanket in my backyard and plow through my favorite titles by Beverly Cleary, Carolyn Keene, and many others. Now, I wonder if it was my long-time habit of reading outside that compels me to head out the door with my laptop on sunny days.
I’ve been working out of the house full-time since 2012, long before the pandemic forced us all into home offices. I love my light, bright workspace and have filled it with inspiring items that have made it my own over the years. When I’m there, I am positive and productive. However, my desk also faces the window, and I can see when the sun is shining and the day looks enticing. At these times, the outside beckons, and I step out onto my deck with the laptop.
I suspect most of us have experience working outside, although often unintentionally. Like when the coffee shop is full, but there is overflow seating on the patio. Or when lunch is served on the patio, and you have a pressing deadline, so you work through your meal. For me, it can be an intentional move outside onto my house’s deck under an umbrella or in the shade where I can easily see my screen.
However, living in the Chicago area, I have to snatch up my “working outside” days when I can! Lately, we’ve had a string of ninety-degree days with high humidity, and it’s just not pleasant to sit outside. However, mornings can still be cool enough to get something done and simultaneously enjoy the vibe of a crisp morning before it ushers in the hotter day.
Here in Chicagoland, I can take advantage of more days outside in the fall than in the summer. But either way, working outside touches my productivity, creativity, and well-being in many wonderful ways.
Productivity Working Outside
I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t working outside distracting? I know it’s not for everyone. Technically, there are many distractions, from the neighbor’s lawnmower (yes, I live in the suburbs!) to the disgruntled dog barking down the block. But somehow, the sun’s warmth and fresh air help this writer focus on what needs to be done. Like the noise of those around you in a coffee shop, outdoor noises become the ignorable white noise most of us deal with indoors, such as the whoosh of the HVAC turning on, the clamor of the ice maker dumping ice into the freezer, the background music you put on for inspiration, or the tick of the clock on the wall.
Scientifically speaking, studies have proven that working outside is wonderful for our brains and can improve our mood and concentration. And that means an opportunity for greater productivity! For children, getting outside in nature can even help with attention deficits. WebMD reports that children with ADHD were found to concentrate better on a task after walking through a park than in an urban area. The study showed it wasn’t about the activity but the “greenness” of being in an outdoor space that helped the children cognitively. I believe it might be the same for me when I work outside.
Creativity and Working Outside
Creativity is one of many cognitive abilities we have that can be aided by working outside. The American Psychological Association concludes that being in nature includes many very important benefits for human beings, including:
- Improved attention
- Lower stress
- Better mental health
- Increased empathy
- Increased cooperation
Some researchers believe we inherited the desire to connect with nature from our ancestors, who evolved in the wild and relied on the environment for survival. In other words, it’s natural to feel at home outside. Even just a “green view” out the window can have positive effects on us.
Sometimes I believe my creativity is just nudged by getting out of the office. Psychologists refer to this as the “incubation effect,” which occurs when we devise a creative solution or approach to a problem while not actively thinking about it. The colloquial term for this is the “shower principle,” which describes the phenomenon of an unexpected solution to a problem coming to you while you’re taking a shower!
Likewise, stepping outside boosts our creativity by changing the pattern of our thought processes. Small changes in our environment can challenge our brain with new stimuli and force us to think and process data differently. Our brain makes new connections which can lead to fresh solutions on active problems. For this writer (and I suspect I’m not alone), getting out of the day-to-day environment yields creative results.
Activity helps our creativity, too. Even the small motion of walking has been shown to improve our creativity. We can achieve the same kind of physiological benefits by putting our feet to the pavement and changing up our creative process by taking it outside. Here are just a few ways.
- Taking a walk with no agenda (to trigger the incubation effect)
- Conducting walking meetings
- Taking phone calls outside
- Taking phone calls on a walk
- Thinking through problems alone on a walk
Health Benefits of Working Outside
Most of us understand the benefits of being outside, especially if we are tied to our desks all day. Numerous studies highlight the importance of spending time in nature, which is often difficult to do on workdays. That’s why working outside is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. While we might not be able to fit in a whole exercise routine during the day, we can enjoy the many benefits of just being in nature, even for a little while. All we need to do is step outside onto your deck, patio, terrace, etc. Wherever you find your green space, you can get your work done while soaking up the delights of nature.
- A change of scenery
- Fresh air
- Reduced cortisol levels
- Vitamin D
- Lower anxiety
- Better sleep
Do you ever work outside? It’s worth a try when you’re stuck creatively and need a new perspective. Or, if you are looking for ways to promote your business, launch your new product offerings, or help with a manuscript for publication, I hope you will contact us at Big Ideas Writing, or karen@bigideaswriting.com. I’m looking forward to writing for you…either inside or out!
