How to Spend More Time Outdoors

A think on how to spend more time outdoors...

More Time Outdoors

Time outdoors is good for health and humanity. We evolved under the blue (or grey) sky and not in caves. Or in sprawling urban environments.

Time in greenery is good for mental wellbeing, cleaner air and wanting to take walks

My unscientific gut tells me being outside is good for...

• Lower stress levels
• Creativity
• Vitamin D
• Eyesight
• Exercise
• Getting Wet.

But taking care to avoid excess smog, hot sun or freezing cold...

Less Screen Time

One of my long-term goals has been to spend less time on screens. As a programmer (before getting a smartphone) I would spend time at work, then often be playing PC games or writing up things at home on the computer.

In the time since leaving life as a coder the, this has slowly morphed into "Spend more time outdoors"

For many of the reasons above, for longevity, health, mental wellbeing, creativity and

It's been one of thing behind walking more, taking up an allotment, moving to Exmouth, having an evening cut-off, favouring physical books over digital, dancing outdoors and finding ways to work without a screen (such as writing in physical paper outdoors when it's not raining.

It's also a way for me to resist the weird online world we're in. A way to resist turning everything into a way to use AI.

Some Outdoor Ideas

I've got a few more ideas for spending more time outdoors and reducing screen time. Hopefully they might inspire you if you're looking to do the same...

• Going all in on the allotment and using it for other activities like drawing
• Stopping playing RPGs online. (although I haven't investigated the option of playing online outside...)
• Joining a sport group for doing things outdoors
• Taking back up Paddleboarding with enthusiasm. Any sport outdoors would be good although some are more all-year-round than others
• Running more outdoor art events / picnics
• Spending less time where it rains alot
• Finding a good shady spot to do work on the laptop
• Reading outdoors or in an outdoor cafe /garden
• Trying to do all work outdoors
• Living somewhere with a mix of shade and sun and retractable rooves (a long way off yet)
• Using a bike instead of the train or bus)
• Night walks
• Seaweed foraging

Finishing Up

I type this while sat indoors. Still got work to do on spending less time on screens!