How To Spend More Time Outside As A Family

The average family spends the majority of the day indoors, glued to screens. And while there’s nothing wrong with the occasional family movie night or lazy day, there’s something to be said for spending more time outdoors.

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The question is, what is there to do?

The Benefits Of Spending Time Outdoors

Whether it’s winter, spring, summer, or fall, getting outside as a family is extremely healthy and necessary. According to Healthline, the benefits of being outside in nature include:

Better breathing. We spend so much time indoors these days that we never really pause to consider how it impacts our breathing. Between allergens, pet dander, and the presence of mold and mildew in HVAC systems, being inside too much can trigger asthma and other respiratory issues. Studies show that spending time outside can help lower the risk of these concerns.
Improved sleep. The human body has an internal clock that’s intended to follow the sun. This makes you feel sleepy at night and alert during the day. Unfortunately, exposure to artificial illumination has messed up the circadian rhythm of many children and adults. Spending more time outside helps correct this, making it easier to fall asleep at night and awake at a decent time.
Lower risk of depression. People who spend time outside are shown to have a much lower risk of feeling depressed and anxious. It might take a few weeks, but there’s almost always noticeable improvement.

These are just some of the benefits. Other perks include a stronger motivation to exercise, more mental energy, better immune health, stronger vision, and greater emotional wellness.

5 Ideas For Outdoors Fun

Clearly, there are benefits to being outdoors. Here are several ways you can prioritize outside fun with your family:

Hiking

Hiking is a great activity for the entire family. It’s also an activity that can grow with you over time. You can start with simple hikes on nearby nature trails and eventually try more rigorous backcountry hikes as your kids get older and stronger.

With hiking, you get both physical and mental benefits. It keeps you in shape and gives you an environment where you can escape.

Camping

Hiking and camping often go hand-in-hand (though they don’t have to). Camping is great because it gives you extended time away from screens, social media, video games, and other crutches that command our attention.

There’s something fun about creating your own camp, building a fire, and cooking a meal under the stars. With time, this can become one of your family’s favorite traditions.

Backyard Barbecues

You don’t have to go deep into the woods to spend time outside. Sometimes a little backyard barbecue is all it takes. You can do it as a family or invite neighbors over to join in the fun.

If you’re serious about grilling, you can build an outdoor kitchen, complete with a BBQ grill island and other modern amenities. This makes it easy and convenient to cook and prepare meals outside.

Geocaching

Are you familiar with geocaching? While this hobby has been around for a couple of decades, many people are just now discovering it. Basically, people hide little notes, prizes, and items around the world and supply hints and GPS coordinates for people to find them. Think of it like one big game of hide-and-seek.

To participate, you simply download a geocaching app and use your phone’s GPS to track down nearby geocaching locations. Some are really easy, while others can prove to be quite the challenge.

Family Field Day

Remember “field day” from elementary school? Why not create your own family field day in your backyard or at a nearby park. Better yet, join forces with other families to host your own neighborhood field day with games like cornhole, races, soccer, badminton, etc. You can even include a barbeque and screen on the green afterward!