Go outside and enjoy nature

Go outside

The Cape of Good Hope

Often my life is structured around schedules, hours of operation, academic goals, appointments and commuting. It is normal to plan your week around a schedule of activities that fill certain time slots each day. Even when free time sneaks into my schedule I wonder what new hobby or venue to pursue in hopes of making the best of my spare time.

Boschendal - The Cellar Door South Africa

Tropic of Capricorn Kruger National Park

This week I realized one of the best things to do with spare time is to just go outside. Our schedules are filled with time constraints due to work requirements, academics, and other life activities. However, when spare time arises I often forget nature is only a step away. One of the most refreshing ways to start a day is to sit outside and read (weather permitting). There have been multiple subjects I have wanted to read about, but often my motivation to develop a reading schedule “indoors” has not been successful. Personally, I become distracted or I lose the motivation to continue with it. I’m certain the sun and vitamin D* plays a role in my increased vitality and I plan to discuss that further in a future blog.

Cape Point - South Africa

If you just take a walk in a park, or even participate in an outdoor activity like kayaking I am certain you will soon see the benefits of just going outside. Nature awakens the senses, and it refreshes the mind. The pictures on this blog are from my spring trip with Rutgers University to South Africa this year (it was the end of Summer there). While there I experienced some of the happiest feelings I have ever had. There I spent a lot of time outdoors and I have noticed some of those same energetic happy feelings are returning now that I’m making an effort to venture outside more frequently. After reading this blog if you have free time during the week, just go outside and see how it makes you feel.

Suggestions: (wear protective lotions and weather resistant garments when needed, carry bug repellent, and purchase shoes for the activity you are going to do outside – see a few outdoor activities below)

- Eat one of your daily meals outdoors (breakfast/lunch/dinner/family picnic/romantic late night snack under the stars maybe)

- Create a movie night outdoors using a projector or tablet

- Start a mini garden (if you live in the city, there are places like Urban Jungle* in Philadelphia to cater to your gardening needs)

- Take a walk after dinner

- Have a no TV, no electronics day. Instead plan to do fun things outside like play sports, have a barbecue, go to a festival, or visit a farm.

- Exercise outside versus inside

- Sometimes taking a walk with a restless infant or toddler will calm them

- Step outside and just take in the scenery for a few moments.

As a recent graduate who worked during my entire academic career I tremendously have seen the difference in my mood now that i'm incorporating more outdoor activities in my life. 

2015 so i've used pedometers to track my steps on my fitness/walking journeys. Now you don't have to have an apple watch to track your steps, but it is a cool gadget to track your steps and more during your day. Fit bit is also another cool device but there are lots of great gadgets online to track your physical daily activity.




Urban Jungle
Urban Jungle in Philadelphia

Vitamin D
whfoods Vitamin D

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Another fun survey - 2017

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