Get closer to nature this Valentine’s Day

You don’t have to hug a tree to get close to nature. Simply going for a lunchtime walk in a local park or area of woodland will lower your blood pressure, increase your energy levels and improve your mood.

 

It’s even proven to boost your creativity. A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that walking in any green space for as little as 25 minutes will boost cognitive functioning and get the creative juices flowing.

 

And yet, nearly 20% of UK office workers never leave their desk during lunchtime, despite warnings that being sat for eight hours a day kills as many people globally as smoking.

 

This is largely attributed to work pressures. Figures in a recent survey showed the average lunch break has fallen from 33 minutes in 2012, to 22 minutes today.

 

A poll of more than 800 UK workers found that most wanted to exercise more, but three quarters said their workload got in the way.

 

 

Whilst this work ethic is admirable, the irony is that working for long stretches without breaks leads to greater stress levels, poorer concentration and descreased productivity. Taking a break not only replenishes your mental resources, it means you return to your work with a fresh perspective, making you more likely to stumble upon that ‘Eureka!’ moment.

 

So if you’ve got a work-related problem that needs solving, get your coat and head for the door.

 

(Or there is another solution. Talk to us!)

 

Fall in love with The Great Outdoors this Valentine’s Day.