If you’ve been working from home for most of the past year, you may find yourself hitting a wall. Working From Home (WFH) burnout is real — so it’s important to do what you can to give yourself a boost throughout the workday. Don’t underestimate the power of going for a walk (or, if you’re unable to walk, spending some time outside).

For those of us who can walk, we know that we can walk for exercise and for transportation. And here are five ways to walk with purpose:

• Perspective. Especially in these trying times, getting outside and reconnecting with nature can help broaden your perspective in a healthy way.
• Connection. Invite a friend or family member to join you in person if it’s doable, safe, and responsible, or over the phone if it isn’t.
• Learning. Try listening to an audiobook, podcast, or webinar to stimulate your mind with new information.
• Gratitude. It’s easy to get bogged down in the negative these days. What if you used your time outside to focus on what you’re thankful for?
• Productivity. Walking doesn’t always have to be a break from work — it can just be a break from sitting at your desk all day. Which meetings or phone calls could you do on the go?

Charles Darwin, Friedrich Nietzsche, William Wordsworth, and Aristotle were all obsessive walkers, using the rhythm of walking to help them generate ideas. And while any form of exercise has been shown to activate the brain, walking is a proven creativity booster as well.

Read More: this tip is adapted from “Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Walk,” by Deborah Grayson Riegel

Source
The Management Tip of the Day (Sign up!)
Harvard Business Review

See also:

• Walking (resources & articles)
• Walking and cycling to work