Small changes you can make to get outside more!

More and more we are spending time inside. Hours of on demand TV at our fingertips. Food and drink delivered to our door within the hour. Any item from the shop through our letterbox the next day. Kids kept quiet by phones and tablets. Getting outside more can feel hard when staying in is so easy.

According to Harvard Health, being outside more can help improve both our physical and mental wellbeing (1). As well as likely being more physically active, studies suggest that natural light lifts people’s mood, so being outside can help you feel happier too.

So what small changes can you make to try and get outside a bit more?

Walk your commute.

Commuting to work or school is a part of our everyday routine so why not try to utilise it. Ditch the car or the bus and walk or cycle your commute. If this is something that you’ve not done before then why not start small. Park up half a mile away from the office and enjoy 10 minutes of time to yourself as you walk in, or start off by ditching the car for one day a week. After all being outside makes us happier, so when better to have that hit than before and after work?

Take a meal outside.

Eating is something that can’t be avoided. Planning and cooking three healthy balanced meals a day can be time consuming as well. Why not get your outside time whilst eating one of your meals? During the early mornings of summer I sometimes put a tub of porridge and a flask of tea in my backpack and walk 5 minutes to the lake near my house. No phone, no distractions. Just 10 minutes of me time at the start of the day. The best part with this one is that it only takes an extra 10 minutes in the morning and doesn’t mean I have to get up too early.

Alternatively, why not get out of the office at lunch and take your 10 minutes of me time then.

Block out Sunday mornings.

For a lot of people, Sunday mornings is about making the most of a lie in or chilling out on the sofa. Block out Sunday mornings each week as non-negotiable outdoor time. Go for a walk or get the kids to put the phones down and take them to the park. It doesn’t matter if it’s for one hour or three, just make it a part of your weekend routine.

Split your exercise up.

It’s recommended that an adult gets 150 minutes, or 30 minutes x 5 times a week, of moderate exercise (2). If your schedule is busy then why not break your exercise up into small blocks throughout the day. For example, you could take 10 minutes of yoga in your garden before breakfast. A quick 10-minute walk on your lunch break. Followed by a 10-minute run or HIIT session (High Intensity Interval Training) later in the evening. Not only will this make fitting exercise into your schedule more manageable, it will also increase the number of times your are getting outside throughout the day.

Take your hobby outside.

Spending time outside doesn’t need to consist of moving around a lot and getting sweaty. Remember just being outside in natural light can help make you happier. If you like to spend some of your free time doing hobbies such as reading or arts and crafts, then why not take these outside. Going to your local park to read a book for 30 minutes is a great way to spend more time outside, and you’re less likely to distracted by your busy life at home.

Camp somewhere local.

Camping is a great way to spend a lot of time outside, but it doesn’t just be a once a year holiday. Have a bag with your camping gear ready somewhere at home and if you catch a night of free time then head out the door for a night of camping somewhere nearby (even in your garden if you want?). Set up late and pack up early and it shouldn’t affect your daily routine so you can even do it on a work night.

I hope some of these will help you in being getting up and going outside more. If they do inspire you it would be great to hear from you!

Karl

References:

(1) Harvard Health Publishing, 2010

https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/spending-time-outdoors-is-good-for-you

(2) UK Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity guidelines, 2019

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/physical-activity-guidelines-infographics