Hej Fellow Remote Workers! Visit Sweden for an Out of Office Office Experience!

I've been working remotely since March 17th 2020, and I feel blessed and lucky to have a profession and work a job that makes it possible to get my projects done from anywhere in the world - granted I have my laptop and a stable internet connection.

A study and initiative from Sweden makes me kind of jealous though. Don't get me wrong, my back porch or local coffee shop in southern Arkansas is fine and dandy, but can it really compete with the landscape and temperatures in Sweden?

Photo credit: Tina Stafrén/Visit Sweden

Sweden’s New Initiative ‘Out of Office Office’ Offers Remote Workers Offices in Nature

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Sweden now encourages workers to bag-check their remote setup and have an unforgettable workcation in accommodations close to nature without compromising on internet connectivity. In a newly conducted case study, well-being increased by 22% as participants felt less depressed and more calm, harmonious and happy when working and living close to nature. Through the Out of Office Office initiative, Sweden hopes to boost workers’ mental health in a time where remote working increasingly is taking a toll on many people’s well-being.

How to Alleviate Pandemic-Related Stress // Visit Sweden Shares Tips!

Lockdowns, isolation, and working from home have caused elevated levels of stress for many people: 45% of Americans say they experience anxiety because of the pandemic, according to a UN report. But there are ways to alleviate the stress. Research shows that spending time in nature lowers stress levels – one of the many benefits of grabbing a few minutes to enjoy some greenery or planning a getaway in the great outdoors. 

Photo: Martin Edström/imagebank.sweden.se

The positive effects were tested through Visit Sweden’s very own initiative, “The 72-Hour Cabin,” with participants from major cities who had demanding jobs. They were examined before and after spending three consecutive days in the Swedish countryside where they slept in glass cabins next to water. The study proved that being outdoors surrounded only by nature dramatically reduced negative emotions and lowered stress levels.