Working outdoors is the dream of many, for whom a desk job, sat in front of a computer screen day in day out, holds absolutely no appeal. Instead, fresh air and a more active lifestyle are the ideal solution, particularly if you struggle with poor mental health.
Being outside in the fresh air has been proven to be beneficial to mental health. Not only are you outside and exercising, but it takes you away from distractions that are not healthy, like spending too much time on social media, or watching too much television.
The question is, what can you do? Well we’ve highlighted some of our favorite jobs that we have come across over the years.
Dog walker
As a dog owner will know, their pet needs regular exercise. Unfortunately not everyone has the time to take their dog for five mile hikes every single day, no matter how much they love them. Also, no one wants to leave their pet stuck indoors at home for the eight plus hours that they are away at the office.
Enter the professional dog walker. Although no formal qualifications are required to become a dog walker, there are courses that you can take to elevate you over and above the average walker, and promote yourself as someone who not only walks dogs, but actually has a strong sense of responsibility for their welfare too.
It’s a big thing for someone to leave their pet in your care, so you’ll want to take your time to build up a relationship with both owner and pet. However, in time we are sure that you’ll all benefit from your new found career.
Beekeeper
There’s something very calming about beekeeping – there has to be, because they pick up immediately on stress. And stressed bees get agitated, and their bee producing abilities decline. So if you are looking for a change of career that is going to help you de-stress and become a calmer, less anxious person, then bee keeping could be for you. Offer to do some voluntary experience with a professional bee keeper initially to assess whether this is truly the career for you. It might be that the bees make you more stressed, in which case yu may be wise to step back and concentrate on your emotional wellbeing for a while.
However, it may be the making of you. And once you have overcome the initial few visits and started to connect with the bees on their level, you’ll find yourself healing in ways you would never have thought possible.
Artificial grass installer
If you’re looking for a career that has all the satisfaction of creating beautiful spaces and the creativity of garden design without the years spent in horticultural college, then seek out company’s advertising for artificial grass installers. This skilled profession is one that offers year round work in the fresh air, working with the land and creating outdoor spaces that thousands will enjoy for years to come.
Panda cuddler
Did you know that in China there are people who are paid solely to cuddle pandas! This unique creature has long been on the endangered list for some years now, and there are intensive breeding program’s to ensure that the breed doesn’t die off.
A panda cuddler supplements the role of the mother panda if, for any reason, there is a disconnect between the mother and baby. This ensures that the babies maintain that sense of comfort and love which will help them develop healthily.
Tree surgeon
If you loved climbing trees as a kid, and still dream about scaling their heights, then a career as a tree surgeon could be for you. You don’t need to be university educated, but it may help as this is a relatively competitive career area. Make sure that you research what the best qualifications are, and ask around for as much hands on experience as possible.
One thing though, if you have a fear of heights this might not be the right career choice for you!
Grape picker
If you’d like to combine some travel with working, then the autumn sees numerous opportunities for grape picking in the vineyards of wine producing countries such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain. These may be more volunteering jobs initially, but if you get a taste for it (and who wouldn’t!) there’s no reason why you couldn’t develop a temporary seasonal job as a grape picker into something more permanent. Your own vineyard maybe?