On the outs:
Unique opportunities available for those who enjoy working outdoors
There’s nothing like the great outdoors. Fresh air, warm sunlight and the sounds of nature can put a smile on even the biggest curmudgeon’s face. But let’s face it, most of us have those feelings of joy and grandeur on the weekend or on vacation. But Monday through Friday? We’re usually stuck in a cubicle or a home office — not exactly aweinspiring environments.
But what if your work was outside? Would you be able to retain that outdoor enthusiasm during your work week or would the great outdoors become as boring as your spare bedroom?
Rita Bridgman says she began working outdoors after spending 28 years working in an office. “I’m not the type of person who would hate her job — life’s too short to get hung up on that — but I know I never liked where I worked — the physical location,” says Bridgman, 59. “When I worked inside, I actually enjoyed it more when I didn’t have a window so I couldn’t look outside and see what the day was like. If it rained every day while I was at the office, that was fine with me. The worst thing was to look outside and to see the sun.”
When Bridgman’s husband accepted an offer to transfer to San Diego — while receiving a substantial increase in salary — Bridgman says they both agreed that upon leaving Chicago, she would look for work in southern California’s ideal outdoor climate. “I was so excited. I worked right away as a dog walker and then later worked at a pool and then at a garden supply store,” she says. “I now work as a consultant for landscaping services, lining up potential customers and projects. And yes, I spend as much time as possible outdoors.”
Brighter mood
Bridgman says being outside made a discernible difference in her day-to-day mood. “Of course, I’m living in one of the most beautiful places on earth,” she says. “When I’m spending the bulk of my days outdoors, it makes me feel so much better about myself.”
Bridgman’s summary of her current well-being lines up with the feelings of many who are no longer confined to an indoor workspace.
“I think the two are connected,” says Frank Simpson, a social worker who specializes in finding employment for seniors in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “I meet with so many people who tell me immediately that they don’t want to sit in a cubicle or at home. They want to work outside and be free of their desks.”
Simpson says she says he often works with mental health professionals and physicians who are part of an assigned team put together to help select individuals. A snapshot of their current health situation — if the patient feels comfortable sharing it — indicates that they lose weight, lower their blood pressure and see an improvement in their overall health. “Sometimes it’s not enough to say lose weight, sleep more, add an exercise program,” Simpson says. “If you’re still putting yourself through the same miserable paces every day, you may not see the improvement in your health you expect. That’s why a new job that takes place primarily outside can be a real boost to individuals.”
Piece of the puzzle
Bridgman says she realizes that the decision to work outdoors was only one factor in her current positive emotional state but she doesn’t minimize its importance. “I get that my daily situation is substantially better than it used
to be,” she says. “No more snow, no more kids in college, a steadier income than we’ve had in years but my work-life has been majorly upgraded, too. It’s made a difference.”
For some, the draw of an outdoor job stems from previous employment. “I worked two jobs in Colorado when I was in school and they were both outside,” says Alan Proust, 31. “I worked as a whitewater rafting guide on the Colorado River during the summer and with the landscaping crew at school during the fall and spring.”
Proust, who attended Colorado State University, says he worked in an insurance agency after he graduated in 2017. “But it didn’t last long,” Proust says. “I couldn’t take being inside all the time.”
After a few months, Proust says he began working with a construction company in Denver and eventually became a site manager. “I was either working outside or had a makeshift office on site that was steps away,” he says. “Even during Covid, when things slowed down at first,
I kept my same schedule because I need that sunlight. I feel like it keeps my going. And really, my day-to-day responsibilities could be applied to a lot of other industries. The difference is I get to take my work outside whenever I want.”