Why take a daily commute when remote working?

If you work from home, is your daily commute just a skip across the landing or a trip down one flight of stairs?

With many of us now working remotely or on a hybrid basis, the lines between our professional and personal lives can easily blur, and our lifestyles can become more static. With the convenience of working from home, many of us find ourselves glued to our desks in back-to-back Zoom calls, getting little natural movement, daylight or fresh air.

Working from home can mean spending much of the day sitting. Rather than just walking down the stairs to my office space on the ground floor of my house, most weekdays I try to get out on a 40-minute walking loop, past the high school and out into the countryside.

When I don’t do this morning walking commute, I notice a difference in my mood, work focus and energy levels.

Why walk to work when you work from home?

Incorporating a morning stroll into your routine can be a simple way to add movement to your day and create some separation between home and work.

Refreshing start

Instead of jumping straight from bed to desk, take a moment to breathe in the fresh morning air. A walking commute can give you some time outside before you begin your working day and help create a transition into work mode.

A break before the working day

Taking a walk before starting work can create a clear transition between home time and work time. For me, that separation helps me arrive at my desk feeling more ready to focus.

A brief lunchtime stroll can offer another opportunity to step away from your screen and break up the working day.

Space away from stress

If you're feeling tense or overwhelmed, stepping away from your desk and going for a walk can provide a change of environment and some space away from whatever you've been concentrating on.

If you’re able to get to a green space, you can also use the walk as an opportunity to pay attention to your surroundings rather than your emails, meetings or to-do list. Mindful movement can be an alternative to sitting meditation or mindfulness.

Space for new ideas

A walk can also give your thoughts room to wander. You might find that stepping away from your screen gives you a different perspective on a problem or creates space for new ideas.

Use your morning walk as a time to let your thoughts wander freely and see what comes to mind.

Connection to nature

Working from home can sometimes feel isolating, especially when you spend most of your time indoors. Going for a walk allows you to reconnect with the natural world, allowing you to notice and enjoy your surroundings.

More movement in your day

Walking is a simple, low-impact way to add more movement to your day, particularly if working from home means you're otherwise sitting for long periods.

Over this past year or so of taking regular morning walks, I’ve noticed a spring in my step when walking up steps, and my jeans are fitting very nicely now.

Social interaction

Depending on where you live, your morning stroll may present opportunities for brief social interactions with neighbours, other walkers and dog walkers. These casual encounters can offer a little social contact and connection outside of your working day, even in a remote work setting.

Create your own walking commute

While it might seem easier to skip this ‘morning commute’ when you work from home, building some movement and time outside into your routine can be worth experimenting with.

You don't need a 40-minute countryside route like mine. Even a shorter walk can create a useful boundary between home and work and add some movement and fresh air to your morning.

If your commute currently consists of walking from one room to another, why not experiment with creating a walking commute of your own?