Many of us who work from home know what it’s like. Working from home can sometimes leave us feeling bored, stir-crazy, isolated. Some of us who have work from home careers feel that if we have to look one more time at those same four walls we’ll go crazy!

There are many wonderful benefits that we have because of our work from home jobs. We get to spend more time with our families. We lead more balanced lives. Most of us who work from home get a little more time to ourselves than our harried, office bound colleagues.

But one potential pitfall is that those of us who work from home can get tunnel vision. I call it getting STUCK. We begin to spend so much time at home that we lose our zest for doing new things – especially things outside the house – and we get, well, we get too comfortable in the house. Before you know it you’re home almost all the time. You’re there all day working. You’re there all night with your family. You’re there all the time.

You work from home. Exert your mighty power. Savor your precious freedom!

Go for a walk!

While your office-bound colleagues are still STUCK, you’re able to put some shoes on and get outside. Log off. Close your browser. Hang up. Put your papers away. Disconnect. Put your work from home job on hold for a little while. Go for a walk.

Enjoy the fresh perspective. Enjoy nature. Enjoy watching people. Enjoy feeling your own body move. Enjoy the breezes. Enjoy the smells. Enjoy the fact that, because you work from home, you have all this wonderful freedom!

Getting away from your work from home job and going for a walk will afford you many benefits. The walk will give you a very valuable fresh perspective. Getting out of the house will free your mind and soul. Your body – which is probably oxygen-deprived because of your lack of movement – will suddenly become oxygenated… a very good thing. You’ll become more mentally alert. Your body systems will get working. Your metabolism may get stimulated and work harder. Vigorous walking is good for your whole body, including your bones, and can help combat osteoperosis. Your muscles will enjoy being called back into action and they’ll thank you for it by becoming healthier, better toned. If you walk briskly enough your body will release endorphins, a body chemical that will help you feel positive and happy and give you a sense of general well-being. And let’s not forget, walking burns a lot more calories than sitting at our desks pouring over spreadsheets and emails.

As if all these many benefits aren’t enough, when you get back to your work from home job you’re likely to feel exhilarated, full of energy, lucky to be alive and ready to go back to your work from home job being twice as productive as you were before your walk!

All that from a fifteen to thirty minute walk?

You bet.

So the next time you feel STUCK in your work from home lifestyle, consider unplugging and going for a good, old-fashioned walk. You’ll be glad you did.