Why we should normalise walking and talking
Mid-way through January, I had a couple of crappy days in a row. I found myself sluggish, unmotivated and pretty unhappy.
It was no coincidence that both of these days were spent almost entirely at my desk on back to back calls, sitting down before the sun had fully come up and logging off after it had gone down. Aside from getting up for comfort breaks and to grab some food, I spent the whole day sat in front of my webcam, 'present' on the calls and contributing where I could. And I felt rubbish for it.
It's not new to suggest that sitting in front of a computer and staring at a screen all day isn't good for you. It is pretty new (for me at least, forced by nearly a year of fully-remote work in response to the pandemic) to be forced to do that.
Pre-pandemic, internal meetings would involve moving around in our office, walking and talking or heading to nearby coffee shops/restaurants/pubs to talk over a drink or some food. A lot of the time meetings were avoided by just having a quick chat in the office or on the way to meet a client. Now, we're having more meetings than ever and they all feel like they're exactly the same.
Walking and talking - a tiny change
Following those long, low days, I decided to try a tiny change to see if it would help. I started picking calls and meetings where it wouldn't be inappropriate to take the call audio-only and go for a walk around the local park. I might be late to the party here, but it's been an entirely positive change and one i'd recommend to anyone.
We know that walking is good for you (even better if you can walk in nature). We know sitting down all day is bad for you.We know we're being pulled into more meetings than ever (though whether we should be in all these meetings is another story). Walking and talking makes sense. For me, I've noticed a few benefits:
I'm more focussed during these conversations. Have you noticed people's eyes darting around and the sound of keys tapping during normal calls? It's oh-so-tempting to just reply to that email or just finish that task when you're at your desk. When you're out for a walk, those distractions don't exist
I feel better during the conversation.
I feel better during the rest of the day. Less anxious, less cranky, more peaceful
If I can get a big (60mins+) walk in, I feel a sense of accomplishment.
How to do it right
I think there's a bit of a stigma against not being sat down in front of your computer for video calls. This stems from worries that you won't be paying attention, or you won't be able to contribute fully to the conversation. Here's some ways to nip those worries in the bud:
Choose your meetings wisely. Calls where it's just you and one other person seem to work best. If you or someone else needs to share something visual, it's probably not the best time. If you're having an ultra-serious conversation or discussing a thorny issue where you think face-to-face makes sense, stick to a video call.
Ask permission. "I'm planning on going for a walk during our call. I'll be totally present. Would that be okay? Is there anything you need to share visually that means this won't work?".
Be fully present. This isn't an opportunity to do your shopping or have a chat with the other dog walkers.
Get your equipment sorted. You want the other person to be able to hear you fully without much distracting background noise.