Anyone would think the recession was turning us into a nation of vampires. We shut ourselves away indoors to work ever longer hours and shun the daylight to spend our lunch breaks scattering sandwich crumbs over our keyboards. It seems the best we can manage by way of rest and relaxation are a few short minutes poring over somebody else's wedding snaps on Facebook. And then it's back to figuring out why that pesky Excel spreadsheet won't behave itself …
OK, in the depth of winter there may be little temptation to go outside in the wind and lashing rain. But right now, at the height of Britain's glorious if inconstant summer, it seems a bit of a crime to stay rooted to your seat.
And there are more than just aesthetic reasons to enjoy the fresh air and savour the birdsong, especially if you're having a tough day. Neil Shah, psychotherapist and director of the not-for-profit Stress Management Society, argues that exercise, fresh air and sunlight are all ideal ways of coping with the pressure of working life.
"What happens to our bodies when we get stressed is the chemicals adrenaline and cortisol are released. There are changes to your physiology. Heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension all increase," Shah says. "Your body's all set to burn off those chemicals through activity."
This is the so-called fight or flight response, rooted in our ancestors' experience of physical danger but woefully misplaced in modern life. Many people exacerbate the problem, Shah says, by reaching for the comfort of stimulants like caffeine, nicotine and sugar, which ultimately increase stress rather than reducing it.
"You would get far better benefit by going for a brisk walk around the block – fresh air and deep breathing," he says.
Yes, it seems the traditional "breath of fresh air" really does help you relax and refocus your mind. "When you are stressed, your breathing becomes shallow and fast," Shah says. "Oxygenated blood is going to your muscles and blood flow to the brain is diminished." When you breathe deeply, more oxygen is going to the brain and that is what leads to feelings of being less stressed.
With more oxygen, your brain will function better, too. So when you get back to your desk you might actually be able to suss out exactly what's wrong with that spreadsheet.
Getting out of the office at lunchtime also has physical benefits. See if there is a walking club at or near work that you can join, and if not you could consider starting one up. Walk Jog Run or Walk It offer an ideal start, from route planning to finding fellow enthusiasts.
Thirty minutes of brisk walking five days a week has a host of health benefits, from lowering your chances of a heart attack to lifting your mood. Just make sure it really is brisk – an amble round the block is not enough. According to The Ramblers (formerly the Ramblers' Association), you should just about be able to hold a conversation while you are walking.
Getting out in the sunshine could make you happier too – exposure to sunlight has been linked to the production of the feel-good chemical serotonin, and is needed for your body to produce vitamin D.
That said, Cancer Research UK suggest that five to 10 minutes' exposure a day is all light-skinned people need to make enough vitamin D, and with this week's health warning from the Met Office about high temperatures you shouldn't be rushing outside without applying a good sunblock – sunshine will banish your vampire pallor, but this is not a license to sunbathe until you're the colour of a ripe tomato.
