The unexpected benefits of working outside

AS THE northern hemisphere enters the summer season, I am spending more of my working day in my tiny London garden. It’s not just a way of coping with the rising temperatures – though it is undoubtedly more pleasant to sit in the fresh air than in a stuffy office. According to recent research, time spent outdoors can bring a brain boost.

One benefit comes from plant life. According to “attention restoration theory”, plants provide an optimum level of visual stimulation to replenish concentration when we start to lose focus. This idea is grounded in our evolution: our brains are …