Every spring, I feel I’ve shed the heavy darkness of winter. Suddenly, the sun is shining, and seemingly overnight, buds appear on the trees. Here in Chicago, spring is in full bloom, (along with an inordinate amount of rain).
Unfortunately, because of my blog and job teaching English online, I rarely find an excuse to get outside. Maybe it has something to do with my slight guilt complex; if I’m out, that means I’m done working for the day, but I always think back at the work to be done. I step away from the computer once a day to meet my husband as he walks home from work. If I didn’t have that excuse, I might stay inside forever.
Can you relate?
In this short blog post, I’m not going to list off all the reasons to get outside each day — I think it’s pretty obvious there are incredible benefits. Instead, I want to encourage you to take action starting today. For the next 30 days, decide to get outside for at least 30 minutes. I don’t mean driving to the store and back. That time is spent in your car, not really outside. I mean spending some quality time outside. Dip your toes in the grass. Swing in a hammock in your backyard. Walk to a forest preserve.
Take this as your excuse to better your life.
The challenge
Because I love practical application, and mostly because I wanted something to compel me outside after feeling caged up all winter, I’ve come up with 30 activities (one for each day). Spend at least 30 minutes each day completing the activities. Cross them out as you go. Of course, these are starting points. Feel free to switch things up according to your interests.
Day 1: bike or walk as your only form of transportation
Day 2: have a photoshoot with nature
Day 3: take a walk
Day 4: eat lunch outside
Day 5: walk your dog
Day 6: find a nearby forest preserve and visit it
Day 7: play or watch an outside sports game
Day 8: draw with sidewalk chalk
Day 9: cloudgaze
Day 10: climb a tree
Day 11: start a garden or potted plant collection
Day 12: read a book on the grass
Day 13: sketch by a pond
Day 14: play catch
Day 15: Soak up the sun from a hammock
Day 16: take your exercise routine outside
Day 17: go rollerblading
Day 18: look up hikes in your area and go walk
Day 19: search for wildflowers on a walk
Day 20: explore somewhere new
Day 21: visit a farmer’s market
Day 22: stargaze
Day 23: go birdwatching
Day 24: plan a scavenger hunt
Day 25: clean up your yard
Day 26: feed the ducks
Day 27: plant a tree
Day 28: take a bike ride around town
Day 29: explore your neighborhood
Day 30: fly a kite
By filling your time with quality activities away from technology, you are actively making changes to live a better life. Let me know how it goes in the comments below!
As well, enjoy the printable version of these 30 days. Print it off and cross out each day as you complete them.
I’ll see you again next week!
Printable version
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