How To Make Sure You Spend More Time Outside 

A lot of us like the idea of spending more time outside, and what’s not to like once you’re there? You’ve got fresh air, a bit of sunshine, fewer screens, and a slower pace all round, so it does sound great in theory. In practice, however, it’s usually easier to just stay indoors, especially when […]

A lot of us like the idea of spending more time outside, and what’s not to like once you’re there? You’ve got fresh air, a bit of sunshine, fewer screens, and a slower pace all round, so it does sound great in theory. In practice, however, it’s usually easier to just stay indoors, especially when you’ve got things to do, routines in place, and it’s comfortable there. With that in mind, keep reading to learn more about how to make sure you spend more time outside.

Make Outside Part Of Your Daily Routine

The absolute easiest way to spend more time outside is to add it into what you already do. So instead of thinking of it as an extra task, it’s better to treat it like a standard part of your day like brushing your teeth or making a cup of tea.

 

How can you do it? Well, there are a variety of ways, and a few examples include stepping outside with your morning drink, taking a short walk after lunch, or maybe just sitting in the garden for 10 or 15 minutes in the evening. It might not sound like much, but these small things can add up to plenty of time outside at the end of every week.

Create An Outside Space You Actually Want To Use

If your outdoor area feels uncomfortable or neglected, you’re less likely to use it, and you don’t have to do all that much to make it a nice space to be in. You could just add a simple chair, a small table, and some cushions, and you’ve basically got everything you need. Of course, you can do a lot more than that if you want to, and there are plenty of options when you start looking, but that’s a good start (and it could be enough).

 

You might also want to think about things like shade, privacy, and comfort – if it’s too windy or sunny or it’s quite exposed, you’ll probably avoid it after a while, so make it as nice as you can from the start, and you’ll keep going out there more often.

Tie Outdoor Time To Things You Enjoy

It’s far easier to go outside when you’re doing something you already like, and that could be reading, listening to music, scrolling on your phone, calling a friend, and so on. All of that can be done outdoors rather than indoors, helping you get outside more often than usual.

 

And if you’ve already got a hobby like drawing, journaling, knitting, and similar activities, why not take it outside occasionally? You’ll get the same enjoyment with the added benefit of fresh air.

Schedule Outdoor Social Time

Meeting people outside makes it easier to get out of the house – walks with friends, picnics, coffee in the garden, and outdoor dinners mean you can combine social time with fresh air and really make the most of it.

 

If you struggle to get motivated by yourself, having plans with someone else can be the push you need, and it also makes outdoor time feel more fun and less like a chore.

Keep It Low Effort

One reason people stay indoors is that going outside feels like too much effort, and even putting on outdoor clothes like shoes and a coat can be enough to make you want to give up on the idea and stay inside instead.

 

But what if you could reduce the effort you need to put in? You could keep a pair of shoes right by the door, for example, have a coat hook in the hall so you just literally grab your jacket on the way out, or perhaps have an outdoor bag packed with everything you need, like sunscreen and a bottle of water, in a hallway cupboard so you can pick it up and leave the house without having to scramble to pack it. In the end, the easier it is to step outside, the more likely you’ll do it, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

Use Outside Time As A Break From Screens

Screens have a bit of a tendency to keep up inside, and sitting (or laying) still, and before you know it, hours will have passed. That’s why setting small boundaries is a good idea because it means you’ll have time to go outside, which can often be at least part of the problem.

 

Try moving one daily activity outside without your phone, or even intentionally use that time to have a break from the many, many notifications we all receive all day long. The fact is, even short screen-free moments can make being outside really worthwhile.

Turn Chores Into Outdoor Opportunities

Some tasks are naturally going to get you outside, so thinking about them in another way can help make them less of a problem, and perhaps even something to look forward to. Gardening, washing the car, tidying the yard, taking out the bins, and so on, are all chance to be outside for a little bit longer.

 

Even small maintenance tasks can be pretty satisfying, and using tools like a battery lawn mower to keep the grass tidy can turn a routine chore into a good reason to step outside regularly, rather than something you keep putting off for weeks.

Take Work Outside If You Can

If you work from home, there are some tasks (not all, of course, it does depend what you do and how you do it) that can be done outside. You can read project briefs, for example, you can answer emails, you can make phone calls, and anything else that doesn’t necessarily need you to be at a desk inside.

 

Making yourself a small outside workspace, even if it’s just a table and chair, can give you something to look forward to, and make work a bit more pleasant – plus you might even get more done because fresh air and natural light are both things that can improve your concentration. You might need to invest in some tools like a parasol or a screen protector, but they’ll be worth it when you realise you can be outside and tick a load of things off the day’s to do list.