How many times have I thought in my busy corporate days “if I only could be outside and enjoy the sunshine”… Then I started to turn my life around, trained as a coach, worked more flexible hours and: I still did not spend more time outside enjoying the sunshine.
So, what is it that kept me at my desk or indoors all these sunny days? My first excuse was that there are just so many things to do… A closer look at my days showed me that more than all the things I have to do, it’s my habits that keep me working exactly where I have been working so many years.
It wasn’t until I made being outside a firm part of my day that this changed. It simply was so easy to start the day on my desk (or on other chores) and keep ticking off the tasks from my list without getting up or changing place. In the same way, I had usually spent short breaks in the office kitchen or at my desk.
Now, being aware that being outside in the sunshine contributes to my wellbeing even on the busiest of days, I make it part of my routines to step out. And once I got into that mindset, there are so many opportunities: take the laptop on the garden table, receive my clients outside when it’s warm enough or even walk or bike the kids to school rather than taking the car. At the office, take the coffee outside like the smokers do, have a 1-on-1 meeting outside during a walk…
As a practice, check what you are longing for when you have a busy day. What would it feel like if you could only have that for a little moment every day? What are ways you can build it into your days in tiny bites?
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