Bring nature into your working life

We spend a lot of time indoors. Many of us sit in front of a screen or, as is the case for some of IDA's members, in a laboratory, on a construction site or similar. Even though the intention may be there, in a busy everyday life it can be easy to stay where you are and not go outside – and perhaps even skip taking breaks. But it has many positive effects if we manage to structure our everyday life with time for spending time outside.

When we go outside and connect with nature, it has a positive impact on our well-being, sharpens our ability to concentrate and makes us better able to solve mentally challenging tasks – and it can also increase creative thinking and job satisfaction.

Nature also has a physical effect on us, according to IDA's working life consultant Sita Michael Bormann, who explains:

'Physically, the level of endorphins and especially hormones such as serotonin (the happiness hormone) and dopamine (the reward/motivation hormone) increases when you go for a walk outside. When this happens, it reduces the stress hormones in your body. So a walk outside can help prevent or reduce stress. When we go outside, we also get more oxygen, which affects our blood flow, helping us to think more clearly.'

It is really good for our brains to take a break, so instead of sitting in the same room all the time, we create a little disruption where we can think in new ways. After being outside during the working day, we can concentrate better when we return to a noisy office because we have had the physical break that going outside can provide. It can help kick-start creativity or task solving.

'When you go for a walk and use your senses – seeing something, hearing something, smelling something – your entire sensory apparatus is activated, and that makes you more creative. That's also why you often get good ideas when you go for a walk or a bike ride,' says Sita Michael Bormann.

Take your work outside

An outdoor environment is rarely perceived as part of our daily working spaces, and many people feel they are too busy to go outside. So how can you bring nature into your work while still doing your job? According to work life expert Sita Michael Bormann, it is perfectly possible to incorporate nature into your working day:

• Attend online meetings on your phone when it makes sense and go for a walk while you talk to people.
• If the meetings are with people in the same location as you, you can take it as a walk-and-talk, e.g. 1:1 with your manager.
• Use the space outside when you do group work, have a team day or team meeting. For example, take a couple of flipcharts outside.

It is always easier to hold on to your habits. Therefore, it can be a good idea to structure things a little. If you are busy and stressed, you may want to introduce more structure in your everyday life. For example, you can book meetings where you go outside, or you can plan your time so that you set aside time to get outside.

'During the pandemic, I planned my time so that my workplace was one specific place in the house. When I worked, it was only there. When I took a break, I left the room I was working in. I also shortened my lunch break a little so that I had time for a ten-minute walk. So I systematised it and made sure not to book meetings or schedule tasks right then. And I have kept those habits now when I work from home,' says Sita Michael Bormann.

Difficult conversations can be easier on the move

It can be easier to talk about something difficult when you're walking side by side and don't have to look each other directly in the eye. For some people, sitting across from each other and having a one-on-one conversation can be intense.

'If you need to have a difficult conversation with your boss or discuss something sensitive with a colleague, you can do it on a walk. I've done this myself, and I've found that it's easier to say difficult things when you're outside, your shoulders are relaxed, and you can look at the bigger picture,' says Sita Michael Bormann.

Remember to take breaks

Sita Michael Bormann also emphasises the importance of not only using nature for work, but also for taking breaks – even if there isn't much greenery near your home or work.

'The most important thing about getting outside is to take a break from what you're doing and get some fresh air. Instead of going to the coffee machine and standing there for ten minutes, which is also fine, replace that with a short ten-minute walk where you take a break and let your mind wander,' says Sita Michael Bormann.

She believes that we are not good enough at creating breaks and rest for ourselves, and that we need to be better at this in order to perform well and thrive.

'Lots of studies show that if we work intensely all the time, we overload our brains and become less productive. Instead, we need to plan our focus time and breaks. Often, it doesn't take much. A 5-10 minute break is better than nothing, and it's a good idea to go outside for a bit,' explains Sita Michael Bormann.

Start small

Now, it may sound like we should all wander off into the forest, frolic amongst the pine needles and listen to the branches crackling under our shoes on the forest path, but less can also do the trick. There are many ways to use nature, just as it has many forms and variations, from the tree in the car park and the sky above us to forests and fields.

'Just getting outside, getting some fresh air and taking a break gives your brain a break, which is really healthy for us. You don't have to think about holding meetings and workshops outside and going deep into the forest or anything like that. Start small and then you can always scale up. It can quickly become too overwhelming,' says Sita Michael Bormann.