Get Your Kids Outside, and Get Outside With Them
A lot of our kids’ time is spent indoors these days. From school, to care before and/or after to school, to after school indoor activities, and dinner time/prep for the next day. It is pretty easy to forget to set aside time to play outside. As parents and caregivers, it is incredibly important to get our kids outside, and even more important to get outside with them. Go for walks, play in a forest, play sports together, or get out in your garden. It doesn’t matter what it is, it just matters that you are outside, and better yet if you are together. We all feel better when we get some fresh air, sunlight, and some exercise. Forget about the rat race for at least 15-20 minutes, connect with your kids, boost your immune systems in the dirt, and enjoy all the benefits that the outdoors bring. Check out more benefits below and enjoy some much needed outside time with the kiddos in your lives.
Get Outside—15 Minutes a Day Can Keep the Doctor Away
Timing: 15-20 minutes
Level of Difficulty: Pretty easy to go for a stroll
Serving Size: Start with one day per week, and work up from there
Spiciness: Mild, relaxing, maximum chill
INGREDIENTS
Just yourself, outside in nature, ideally without your phone or other technology
REASONING AND BENEFITS
Ever since we were kids, we have been told to get outside, run around, and get fresh air. This is advice that we have always heard, but never really questioned or looked into, so let’s dive into the benefits. Firstly, getting the benefits of nature doesn’t have to be in a remote forest, on a private island, or deep in the jungle. You can get the benefits of nature right out your front or back door. We are going to focus on two countries that have studied the positive effects of getting outside—Japan and Finland. A Japanese study found that people who spent just 15 minutes sitting and walking through nature experienced drops in blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar, and stress levels. Not only that, people’s bodies release more natural killer cells to fight off colds, flus, and other illnesses. (Easter, p. 113) In a world where we are often overstressed, overstimulated, and overworked, it is pretty important to stop and slow down every once in a while, and it looks like a 15 minute nature walk is just what the doctor ordered. The studies in Finland concluded that we should spend around 5 hours out in nature every week to avoid depression and make us happier in our everyday lives. (Easter, p.119) While you’re out in nature, your brain enters a mode called “soft fascination.” In this mode you are focusing outwardly at the nature around you, your attention network is turned down, and you are being mindful about what you are doing and seeing. A 15-20 minute nature walk will leave you feeling calmer, sharper, more productive, and ready to take on your day. (Easter, p. 116) Key Tip: Make sure to turn your phone off and focus on the walk and what is around you. If you remain connected to your phone, you will not get all of the benefits possible. Harness the calmness, turn off your phone, focus on what is around you.
INSTRUCTIONS
Stop waiting for a big wilderness trip to get your outside time. Go hang out in your backyard with your kids, or step outside your front door and head to a local park. Sit down and relax, or walk through for 15-20 minutes.
Make sure your phone is off, and do not check it or any other technology.
Notice what is around you, let your thoughts wander, focus on controlling and slowing down your breathing, feel the stress melt away. Play with your kids, notice what’s around you.
If you have access to wilder nature nearby, sprinkle some visits there, the wilder the better. But if a small local park is all you have, that’s still great.
Master Level Status: If you find yourself chronically overstressed, and you can’t break out of it, find the time to spend 3 days in nature without your phone. The “three day effect” is based on studies that say 3 days in nature will change our minds for the better. Stress levels will plummet, you will reset your thinking, revive your brain, tame burnout, and just make you feel better. (Easter, p. 120)
PRO TIP: If you can make this happen in the morning to get some morning sun at the same time, then you will be stacking some powerful habits my friends. There is nothing better than pairing up some beastly health improving tips to save time in your busy day for other things.
* In a world where we are constantly overstimulated, taking 15-20 minutes out of your day and having a calm walk in nature can do a lot of good. Try it out for yourself.
** If you have heard the term “forest bathing,” this is what it is referring to. Find a way to make this fit into your schedule that works for you, a little bit of nature goes a long way.
*** Across the world, nature researchers are proving that the outdoors are a potent antidote to the modern human conditions of chronic disease and being overstressed, overstimulated, and overworked. This is a prescription that we can be on board with!
Sources:
Easter, M. (2021). The comfort crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self. Rodale Books.
