In the tech world – particularly in the "biohacking" space – you come across all kinds of “life hacks” to improve your health or wellbeing, usually in the form of a product. Things like treadmills for your desk, air monitors and filters for your office, red lights for at night (or glasses to block blue light), standing desks, grounding mats, and supplements. Many of which are trying to replicate the benefits of simply being outdoors, without having to leave the sacred office. Here’s my very simple life hack: go outside. Rain or shine, cold or hot, busy or not – just spend more time outside.
When you go outside, you run into neighbors, connect with nature, and are exposed to more fresh air and sunlight. You naturally do more walking and less sitting, and you're grounded to the earth. All of which works to improve mood, physical and mental health, sleep, cognition, and much more. And these are just the obvious, practical benefits. I'm sure there are a million other things taking place when we're outside that we'll likely never understand on a rational level.
I think we can "hack" our way to a better, more whole life by reorienting our days (and work) to spend as much time outside as we possibly can. It may seem overtly modern to think of going outside in such pragmatic terms (and it is!), but it's not nearly as modern as trying to recreate the built-in benefits of the outdoors via artificial products. Go touch grass!
"To this day, I don’t care for the enclosure of buildings." – Mary Oliver