There’s a short window in the UK when my house is warmer outside than inside. When that moment arrives, the garden becomes the office. And honestly, I think I’m going to do it more often.
I set up outside today—not just for the sunshine, but for what it does to my headspace. But first, a little bit about the placebo effect.
The placebo effect shows how the brain can respond to treatment, even when there’s no actual medicine involved. If you expect something to work, your brain can release chemicals like endorphins or dopamine that make you feel the way you expect to feel. Scientific studies have show that not only do placebos work, but they also work when you’re told it’s a placebo. So, while placebos won’t cure big illnesses, they can make you feel happier, healthier and more energised if you believe it does.
I apply this logic to vitamins and sunshine. It does more than it does, and it makes me feel great. A friend of mine used to call me “lizard-lady”.
So, on the very few days we get sunlight in the UK. I try to take full advantage.
I’ve always had low vitamin D levels. Sitting in the sun helps with that. But it’s not just about health stats on a blood test. For me, it lifts my mood. I feel lighter. Brighter. Less on edge. Just way more than it should, because I let it become my entire personality.
Vitamin D naturally lowers cortisol levels, which is the hormone linked to stress. That matters. Even a short spell outdoors can help reduce that foggy feeling and give your brain a bit more space.
Then there’s the creativity boost. Studies have linked time outside with better focus and sharper thinking. I’ve definitely noticed it today. Maybe because my brain feels like it can be creative and there’s no bars, because I’m letting myself feel freer. But ideas seem to come more easily without four walls closing in.
Of course, there’s a limit. Once I started to feel my skin burning, I dashed inside for sun cream. Lesson learned: shade is your friend. So I switched spots and sat in the shade instead. Still outside in the fresh air, still working—but without the glow of regret on my forehead.
If you’ve got the option, give it a go. Laptop, a bit of sun—sorted.
