ingStudies indicate that people are spending less and less time outdoors. Baby Boomers and Gen Xers are the last generations to have commonly shared memories of parents shoeing them out of the house every day, of spending hours playing outside and exploring the natural world. Activities that used to be common across economic boundaries like family camping trips, days spent at the community pool and going fishing have become rarities.
Spending time outside in nature has many well-documented benefits. Time spent outdoors has a direct link to physical fitness. Outdoor enthusiasts tend to be healthy and fit, while static time inside can lead to poor health and in some cases obesity. The mental health benefits of being outside are also well known. Time in nature causes a cascade of beneficial internal processes that reduce stress, anxiety and depression while increasing levels of calm and joy. And don't forget the simple joy of experiencing the sheer beauty of nature.
If you've grown up without spending a lot of time outside, integrating some outdoor activities into your life may feel daunting. Here are a few simple tips to help you make the transition.
Start Small
If you want to be healthier you don't go vegan, gluten-free and start drinking wheatgrass juice over the weekend. Instead, you go slow, maybe adding a multivitamin and probiotics to your diet first and integrating larger changes over time. The same goes for spending time outdoors. The biggest mistake people make when trying to integrate some outdoor time into their life is that they go too big too soon. They decide they need to spend time outside and go all-in. They sign up for a five-day hike on the Appalachian trail or a week-long camping trip in the wilderness. The results are usually lots of blisters, a mean sunburn, general misery and a resolve to never do it again.
Instead, start small with activities that introduce you to the joys of being outside in short bursts that don't completely cut you off from the comforts of indoors. Integrating a daily walk around your neighborhood is an easy and doable way to begin. Take some of your daily activities outside like having meals outside or reading a good book while swinging in a hammock in the backyard. Make family time an outdoor activity by playing croquet or bocce ball in the backyard or getting out to a local park. From there you can graduate to longer hikes on the local nature trail or have some fun pitching a tent in your own yard and spending a night under the stars while still having access to a fully functional bathroom.
Get the Right Gear
Throwing on your Keds for a stroll around the neighborhood is fine, but when you start engaging in more strenuous outdoor activities having the right gear is important. Nothing ruins a long hike like having the wrong shoes or an ill-fitting backpack that chafes your shoulders. Family camping trips can go wrong quickly if your tent collapses at the merest hint of wind. Here too, there's no need to go overboard and buy every gadget or piece of gear ever invented, but having the correct basics is essential.
Make it Social
Getting involved with a partner or group to share your time outdoors can increase the likelihood that you'll stick with it. Make that walk around the block a family activity, commit to a regular day hike with a group of friends or a club. Get your kids involved in an outdoor organization such as Navigators USA or The Baden-Powell Service Association. They'll gain outdoor skills and as an involved parent so will you.
The many physical, emotional and mental benefits of spending time outdoors are reason enough to start integrating it into your life. Don't let inexperience stop you. You don't have to be Grizzly Adams. Start small, get the appropriate gear and include your friends and family. It won't be long before you begin to cherish your time in nature.
