Outside Every Day

When I was kid I spent all day outside, every day. My parents could barely get me to come in for meals and my mom says she used to cry that I’d never want to read (and worried I’d never want to do anything else that required being indoors). Those fears didn’t last long, as I became a voracious reader around the age of seven, which led to a need to write; fell in love with baking; and eventually discovered photography, blogging, and digital scrapbooking, all of which require being on a computer. As much as I love nature, I find that lately I have to push myself to spend time out in it. It’s especially hard to be outside in the cold, winter months, which is precisely when I should be making more of an effort to soak in some vitamin D.

I’m challenging myself in 2020 to get outside every day. Some days it will probably be just 10-15 minutes (because I’m soft and our southern winters still make me want to cry and huddle under the blankets with a cup of hot chocolate). Other days I’m sure I’ll spend hours outside as we picnic at a nearby park, spend evenings at the beach, or wander through the local nature preserves. The point isn’t to count minutes, but to spend some time in nature each day, soaking in the sunshine, grounding when possible, and simply slowing down and appreciating the simple complexity of God’s creation. I want that both for myself and for my children.

Join the Challenge!

Would you like to join me in this adventure to get outside every day? I’ve set up a Facebook group so we can encourage one another and share ideas for activities outside – please come connect! You can use #NDRoutsideveryday on social media to keep up with my family’s adventures and share your own, whether you’re doing this solo, with a friend, or with your kids.

Grab the Free Printable!

Don’t miss out on this FREE printable to help you on those days you need a little extra push out the door: 52 Simple Ways to Spend Time Outside. Save it as your phone’s lock screen, or print it out and post it on your back door. I’d love to hear how you use yours!

Invite a Friend!

Share this post on Facebook or via e-mail, pin the image below, or invite a friend to join the group. Have an extra minute to spare? Why not do all three!