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LIVING & TRAVEL

6/5-6/10: A Quickie in the Out of Doors

It's five in the evening and the sun is still out and you're still in the office. Sound familiar? Everybody needs to feel a little sunshine during the workday. What are your favorite tips for getting a quick "outside" fix? Do you print out a report and read it outside? Do you eat lunch on a park bench, do you ride your bike to work? Are you motivated enough to start work at 6 am so you can leave while the sun still shines?

Jim_Ricks: I live in Boise Idaho, and see many people standing in the Boise River in their neoprene's flyfishing on their lunch period. Personally, I drive a semi-truck, so my 'indoors' is a little more 'outdoors' than most folks. I carry a small propane bar-b-que and stop in scenic pull outs and have a picnic.

rosvicl: When in doubt, walk. Even if you brown-bag your lunch, walk to a nearby deli for a soda or some fruit. Or tell people you're going out to get lunch, and just walk around the block. If you're not very hungry, get a hot dog or a sandwich, and eat it while you walk. Even half an hour is enough time to get some exercise and quite a bit of sun. (If you're doing this regularly, make sure you have sunscreen.) If you take a bus or train to work, try getting off a stop early and walking for a few minutes. And remember: if you smoked, your company would let you go out for a few minutes to have a cigarette. There's no reason a non-smoker shouldn't also go out for a few minutes and just stand around without a cigarette.

Adair: As a grad student, I alternate between 14+ hour days with almost no sunlight and blowing off work for a day by the pool. But when I've worked as a summer intern, I would use three techniques. One was walking across the office park for lunch. Another was sitting outside, pretending to work through a problem on paper. The third was skipping out of work as early as possible and getting to a park for an hour or two.

KMorrison: I work for a builder, selling model homes. When I just can't take it anymore, I go to see my customer's homes at whatever stage of construction they're in. Plus, I get to write off the mileage as a business expense!

baryton: I work on Capitol Hill and go for a run down to the Washington Monument and back on my lunch hour. Dodging the hordes of tourists can be a challenge, but during the summer months especially, the scenery (both architectural and two-legged is visually stunning.

GwenM: I'm lucky enough to life close to my work. Every day at lunch I zip home and take my dog out for a walk and some play. It gets rid of his energy; gets me outdoors and allows me to remember that work isn't everything. Life is good.

jrmann: Big need to pick up wife on time (girlfriends don't cut the mustard). Must get items for office -- hardware store,etc. Coffee, etc. Need to mow lawn. Take work home.

SandyN: I leave an hour early so that I can have breakfast at a restaurant with outdoor seating and walk from a bus stop about a mile from work. I also take a bag lunch and go for a walk to a nearby park to eat it. I love the sunshine!

nanderson: A picnic table not far from the back door is our savior. You will find one of us at this table at some time during the day. I also live 2 blocks from work, so I walk to/from work and walk home for lunch.

gks: I bike or walk to work everyday (only 2 miles) I work for an enlightened company that doesn't mind me taking an hour +/- for lunch at 3pm so I often go out for a run a nearby reservoir or park. I often come back a sweaty mess, but a sponge bath cleans me up enough to last until quittin' time.

lfenske: There's a pond close to work that has a heron, many ducks, a couple of other large water birds, a water mammal of some sort, cattails... all-in-all a pleasant place. In the mid-afternoon I often walk around the pond and try to see as many different kinds of birds as I can. I don't consider it a success unless I see 8 different species.

Sarah_Davidson: If you are one of the unfortunate (as it appears more of us than we would like are) to be stuck indoors while it is sunny outside take a break when others leave. Luckily, my company's got the whole shower thing available, so runs at 5pm have become a staple. Traffic is heavy on the roads, but when you come back its quiet and less painful than seeing everyone else leaving. Or if you are lucky enough to say live in Williamstown & have a house close by, run, shower, then go back if it is a must. Otherwise do the telecommuting thing.

Jager: I'd take some Chinese and eat on the park bench.

ChunkyMonkey: Quit your job and buy bird seed to feed pigeons in the local park.

quanta: After 15 years of working as a freelance writer-producer, I learned that my brain is more productive when I get my body outside to do something else--walk, bicycle, fly, sit in the sun and feel the breeze in my face. When I feel the need to both get out and keep working then I grab the laptop. If the weather's nice it is fun to fly over to a favorite grass strip (airport) up the river.

JackM: Living in Alaska, it's real easy at this time of year. The sun is up most of the time. During wintertime, bundle up and go outdoors. Easy. I don't envy the city folk out there at all. What a choice; leave the confines of conrete and glass, or go outdoors to concrete and pollution. What to do, What to do? Hmm, not for me!

patbell: I smoke. No, not recommending that anyone take up smoking to go outside. But it works. Smoking is such a fauz-pas now. But, they let you go outside, what with the new anti-workplace-smoking law in this state. EVEN, dear reader, if I didn't smoke, I would still take an outdoor break every two hours. Clears my head...makes me a better worker. What's the deal with employers? Like stepping outside is "goofing off" You can only be a better worker for it.

SFineart: outside bar-b-q during the lunch hour

hewko: Ride to work! Even better ride to work early in the morning, and then leave early that afternoon. That little work-out in the morning will help you to get everything done so that you can leave early. It also helps if you are on Salary!