"The culture of corporate America is not known for its concern for physical and mental health.
But I don’t work for an American company.
I work for Icebug, a Swedish footwear company, where something called Wellness Hour is built into the work week. Three times a week, everyone in the company is encouraged to stop working for an hour and head outside.
Across the globe, my coworkers and I spend that hour in different ways. Some run or walk through the forest near our headquarters in Sweden. I usually take the opportunity to play fetch with my dog or go for a long walk together.
At first, it felt strange. In most workplaces, stepping away from your desk in the middle of the day can feel like you're falling behind. Here, it's the opposite. Taking that hour is considered part of doing your job well.
It’s weird, but in the best way.
After Wellness Hour, I'm fresher and better able to focus on afternoon tasks. I skip the afternoon slump, and I'm happier overall.
It's a simple idea, but it has changed the way I think about work. Sometimes the best way to be more productive is to stop working for a while and go outside."
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