Are you feeling weighed down lately, bored, or even a bit stir crazy (or actually crazy)? Is quarantine still happening where you live and maybe your kids are home with you? My husband and I both work from home and have two little ones ever-present, so I feel you. Here’s the thing: we’ve both been working from home for close to three years now, so we’ve had some time to work on and work out the kinks. A HUGE element of keeping our sanity:
SPEND TIME OUTSIDE.
There is tons of research that backs up the benefits of getting outside. The bottom line: outside time is beneficial. Getting out around more trees = even more calm for your mood and brain. Getting outdoors and exercising has some additional benefits (especially for your heart, muscles and bones). But just getting some fresh air improves cognitive performance: i.e. helps your sanity and job performance. It is also something to do that is not screen time.
I read and hear about a lot of parents concerned about or even feeling guilty their kids are getting tons of screen time…what else are they going to do? Let’s just pretend it’s 1820 or 1920 and we’re in quarantine… pre: Netflix and Youtube, Smartphones and Tablets, even PC’s and TV’s. What did kids do back then? There was plenty more time spent exploring one’s imagination and the incredible planet we live on.
While reading Richard Powers’ The Overstory this spring, I found the characters Adam Appich and Patricia Westerford particularly intriguing. They were full of questions and deeply observant of the natural world. They studied trees and insects with more depth as children than I have, now well into adulthood. I found them inspiring. There’s no time like the present to get better acquainted with nature, so with my toddler and infant in tow, outside we go to observe, explore and create. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing ideas for getting better acquainted with the outdoors. Maybe you’ll try some or even brainstorm more ideas. Please feel free to drop any further suggestions in the comment section.
Happy Getting Outside!
It Just Dawned On Me...Again 
Good point. But it’s harder to avoid screen time when you’re working and your little ones are too little to be outside by themselves … especially for those who live in big cities and have very little safe and private outdoor space. 😞
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100% agreed! I started really getting into potted plants when I lived in small spaces in the city because I was surrounded by tall buildings and really missed trees. This is not at all intended to shame or judge. Just offer some food for thought and with lots of resources to come!
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