A taste of nature can provide balance and calm during the workday

The crisp crinkle of fallen leaves beneath your feet. The swish and trickle of water moving through a stream. A breath of crisp, fresh air. Spending time in nature can be invigorating or produce feelings of peace and calm. But many professions allow little time or access to the outdoors during the workday. After a youth spent climbing trees and playing soccer, Anna Rose Smith found it difficult when her first job as a psychotherapist in Utah required working in a windowless office. So, she spent her lunch breaks outside, walking to nearby fountains or gardens. She picked up flower petals or leaves from the ground and brought them back to her desk, where she would listen to recorded bird songs, sometimes incorporating the soothing chirps into sessions with clients. "It helps to just have that reminder that these things are going on outside," Smith said. "I can remember, no matter what happens in this room or with my job today, there's still going to be birds singing." Getting to trees or shorelines can be challenging during work hours, especially in cold weather and urban environments. But there are ways to enjoy the outdoors and to bring the natural world into your place of work, even if it's a windowless cubicle. Scheduled meetings don't have to take place indoors. An in-person appointment can happen on a park bench. Smith sometimes suggests a "walk and talk" meeting at a nearby greenway. Mobile devices mean virtual get-togethers aren't limited to conventional workspaces. You can also attend Zoom meetings while walking a wooded path. Atlantic Packaging, a sustainable packaging manufacturer headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, encourages employees to hold meetings in the courtyards of its facilities or while taking a walk, said Becca Schusler, the company's wellness director. Separate from meetings, a group of Atlantic Packaging employees gets together for "Walk it out Wednesdays," a weekly time to take strolls together. "It helps provide a quick break in the day where they can reset and refocus," Schusler said. This article was provided by The Associated Press.