There’s nothing like Labor Day weekend to mark the approaching end of summer—kids are back in school, the weather (might) be cooling down, and you’ve got one last weekend trip to squeeze in before fall is here to stay. But after a busy summer, it can be tough to adjust to the slower pace and return to routine that autumn often brings. Thankfully, we’ve got ideas to help you tap into fresh focus and creative inspiration, both inside the office and out!
Getting rest and nurturing wellness have a huge impact on work performance and overall energy throughout the day. In fact, “resting and unplugging is vital to your long-term health” (Forbes). Here are a few ways to incorporate more rest into your next season.
Start off your morning with movement.
Now, this doesn’t have to look like a two hour pump session hitting new personal records and sweating buckets—although it could, if you’re into that. Simply waking up those muscles and getting your blood flowing for 20 minutes will wake you up better than a cup of joe (of course, we do love to enjoy a cup afterward). Maybe this looks like a hike on the trails near your house, or a sunrise yoga flow on your porch, or even biking to work instead of driving.
Take a walk for a creativity reboot.
A 2014 Stanford study says that “walking indeed boosts creative inspiration.” This is old news, but in case you missed it, the study found that creativity levels were higher for those that walked, both during and “shortly thereafter,” compared to those that remained sitting. Some of the greatest minds, like Ludwig van Beethoven, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Charles Dickens carved out times for long walks and thinking caps. Want a brain boost? Walk the walk. Next time you feel stuck, notify your team and go offline for a quick trip outside.
(Photo from 3040postoak.com)
Make sleep a priority.
It’s widely acknowledged that poor sleep (or not enough of it) has a detrimental effect on everything you do while awake—including your work. According to Sleep Foundation, “Without enough sleep, processes throughout the body work suboptimally. Neurons in the brain become overworked, impairing thinking, slowing physical reactions, and leaving people feeling emotionally drained.” Making sure that you’re getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night and sticking to a consistent schedule that will actually help your body wake up—yes, even on the weekends—is a big step in the right direction toward better days.
Have a picnic.
When the weather is nice, upgrade your normal lunch break to an outdoor picnic. Having a dedicated time away from screens and among the trees will give your mind time to rest and regather so you can finish out the day strong, rather than fizzling out. If you’re curious about the research on this, Harvard Business Review says even just 5 minutes of time in nature is beneficial to workers. So grab your lunch and head outside to breathe in the fresh air! And if you just really can’t find a way to get outside, find the greenest spot in your local Common Desk; we purposefully fill our locations with lush plants to give you a continual dose of this nature boost.
Make your next meeting a walking one.
Remember when Stanford said walking improved creativity? Let’s take it a step further with a walking conference call. One of the perks of coworking is having the freedom to move around throughout the day. Although some Zoom meetings require you to be at your desk with camera on, choose a few that you can call into through your phone as you walk a few laps around the block. It doesn’t need to be a brisk pace—just allow the sunshine to warm your skin, the wind to blow gently on your face, and your blood to start pumping, giving you a free pick-me-up and fresh scenery. Steve Jobs was known for his walking meetings, so we’re pretty certain this is effective.
We hope these tips build some rest into your fall routine; if you want in on the perks that Common Desk offers in regards to work/life balance, productivity, beautiful spaces, and community, book a tour! We’d love to welcome you in this season.
