Getting Outside More In 2023

There is no secret that being outside has major physical and mental health benefits. The new year typically marks a time when a lot of folks will promise themselves that they will do more of this and eat less of that. Our intentions are always pure at heart, but we often forget how difficult it actually is to maintain these promises that we make ourselves over a glass of champagne on December 31st.

One “resolution” I make for myself every year is to get outside more. It’s more of a goal than it is a resolution, and it is as attainable as stepping out the threshold of my front door. This goal doesn’t come with any guidelines or restrictions. It is so very simple: go outside.

Outside should be very accessible, for the most part. One small change that I made for myself a couple of years ago was to get outside as close to waking up as possible. Now, it is a part of my regular routine to wake up, put on a cozy outer layer, pour a hot cup of coffee and my sandals or slippers or boots and just take a few steps outside my front door.

I am fortunate enough that I have a beautiful outdoor space and close access to the waterfront, so I take advantage of that whenever I can. When the summer is here and the sun comes up early enough, I like to take my paddle board out a few meters and just… float. This kind of mindfulness is important to our mental and physical well-being, and even taking the short amount of time to be outside breathing in “new” air and feeling the morning mist on your skin can work wonders.

I think that one of the main reasons that folks don’t go outside is because they don’t really know what to “do” or how to be. If being on TikTok or scrolling Instagram is going to be your mindless activity for ten minutes then fine… just do it outside for ten minutes. I firmly believe that having that time in the outdoors will change your life this year.

If you are looking for ways to be more mindful with your time in nature, consider doing some “senses journaling”. It’s pretty simple - you just go through each of your five senses and focus on on for a moment or two and see what you notice. The smell of pine? Petrichor? Mist? The feeling of cold? Dampness? Dryness? Sunshine? Can you hear birds? Seals? Cars? Planes? Wind? What does the air taste like? If you live by the ocean, perhaps you might pick up on hints of salt in the air. It’s a very simple exercise, but it will train you to be more mindful in nature.

January 1st doesn’t really count because it’s a fake day and most folks are dealing with last nights events anyways. So, starting tomorrow, try taking that morning cup of coffee outside for a walk around your building… See how it changes your day.