How to Spend More Time Outdoors as You Get Older
Being outdoors is important in all stages of life, but especially when you are older and working a full-time job. At this point, you really need to make a conscious effort to be enjoying the outdoor life more. Life is too short to just spend your time between being at home and being sat at your desk at work – there is certainly more to the world than this.
As most people work all day from Monday to Friday, it is easy to see how a pattern of solely working and sleeping could be slipped into. Here are some ways that you can ensure you are spending more time loving life outdoors.
Cycle to More Places
A simple way to enjoy the outdoors more is by cycling to more places and trying to give up having such a reliance on your car. This will mean you are getting your exercise in while just doing errands or cycling to work, as well as saving yourself huge amounts of money with the cost of fuel going up. All you need is a decent bike, some lights, a helmet and a lock and you are ready to take your bike absolutely anywhere.
It is important to note that even if you do lock up your bike in what you believe to be a safe area, it is always worth getting some bicycle insurance. If you do end up being in an unfortunate situation, having bicycle insurance will cover you and will mean you do not have to pay so much for loss or damage.
Join Some Clubs
Joining some clubs which are focused on the outdoors is a motivating way to be outside while among new people. You can meet new friends this way too, which is great because it will introduce you to others who are looking to spend more time outdoors. Having people in your social circle who have this as a goal will inspire you to follow through with it. If you want to stay local, pretty much every town has a running club. If you are looking for adventure, why not consider joining a hiking or canoeing club?
Prioritise Outdoor Weekend Activities
Your weekend is super valuable, and this is the time that should be prioritised for enjoying outdoor activities. Try and plan something for every weekend, whether it is a long walk or even a weekend camping adventure. This will give you something to look forward to throughout the week and will keep you feeling active, especially as sitting at a desk can mean you fall out of the routine of regular exercise. Fresh air is really important for preserving your mental health, so you should never feel bad for prioritising this for your weekends. You can include your kids, your dog or your friends in such activities!
You will never regret having spent a lot of time outdoors, but you will regret saying no to opportunities. You are never too old to start having a more outdoors focused lifestyle, so do not let anything hold you back!