10 Ways to Spend More Time Outdoors This Summer

Between work, summer camps, caring for our families and just generally hustling through our busy schedules, it’s easy to let the whole summer pass us by without taking the time to get outside and enjoy it. But spending time outdoors has great benefits for both our mental and physical health, especially when it’s made a regular part of our daily routines.1,2 This summer, sneak more outdoor time into your routine with these fun and easy tips:

1. BRING THE INDOORS TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS

If you think you’re too busy to spend time outside, then try multitasking by bringing your usual activities and chores outside. While at work, enjoy your lunch breaks outside, take your laptop outside if possible or try having a walking meeting with your team. At home, plan your day while enjoying a cup of coffee on your porch, take your calls while on a walk or try exercising in your backyard instead of at the gym.

2. SWAP SCREEN TIME FOR OUTDOOR TIME

Do you ever find yourself mindlessly scrolling on your phone during your downtime? Or maybe your evenings are spent watching back-to-back episodes on Netflix. Take that screen time and swap it for mindful outdoor time. The fifteen minutes that you usually spend on social media or the thirty minutes of an episode might be better spent with a walk or a refreshing summer drink on the porch. These short breaks are also perfect for squeezing in some dedicated family time if you get everyone in your home involved!

3. SCHEDULE BREATHING BREAKS

Whether you’re running errands all day or in and out of work meetings, it’s important to schedule period breaks to decompress and calm your mind. And what better way to unwind than to soak in the summer sun? Set a reminder on your phone to take a ten to fifteen-minute break every couple of hours to step outside and practice breathing exercises. You’ll be surprised at how healing a short break outside can feel!

4. START A FAMILY GARDEN

To get the whole family outside throughout the week, consider starting a family garden. Gardening is a great way to really dig into nature—both literally and figuratively. You don’t need a full backyard space to garden, either. Your family can start a container garden on a porch or patio, or you can look into finding a community garden space near you.

5. PLAN A PICNIC OR A COOKOUT

You have to eat, so why not eat outdoors? Bring your family and friends together for a picnic at the park or a cookout in the backyard. This is a great way to get everyone outside for a couple of hours at a time, especially if you keep everyone cool and hydrated with a Primo Water Portable Water Dispenser.

6. GET ROWDY AT A PLAYGROUND

Outdoor playtime is crucial for kids, helping them develop their risk-reward skills, creativity, problem-solving skills and even their social skills.3 While school’s out, your kids can still get plenty of the outdoor exercise and play they need at local parks and playgrounds. Plus, you get to enjoy that good outdoor time with them.

7. FIND A SPOT IN NATURE

It’s easier to spend time outside if you have a dedicated outdoor space. Creating an outdoor space could mean investing in some patio furniture, or it could mean spreading out a beach towel at a nearby greenspace every day. Find an area outside that you find relaxing and can visit regularly—whether that’s in your own backyard or under a favorite tree at a public park—and make it comfortable however suits you.

8. MEET A FRIEND FOR A STROLL

Sometimes all it takes is some company to make a new habit stick. If you’re trying to make going outdoors a regular habit, then invite a friend or family member to go on daily or weekly walks with you. This is a great way to connect one-on-one with someone while getting in outdoor time and good exercise. Now that’s multitasking!

9. START A NATURE JOURNAL

Motivate yourself to go find new adventures in the great outdoors with a dedicated nature journal. Every time you go outside, jot down notes, draw quick sketches or collect mementos from your journey. Keeping a nature journal can be a meditative and creative experience that not only gets you outside more often but also records great memories from all your outdoor adventures.

10. MAKE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES REWARDING WITH PRIMO

However you choose to spend your time outdoors this summer, reward yourself afterward with a glass of refreshing Primo water. After all your fun in the sun, you need to keep yourself and your family hydrated, so why not turn a glass of water into a delightful treat like fruity smoothies, sweet summer lemonade, or homemade popsicles? Just make sure you’re always using safe and great-quality Primo!

¹Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2022, June 24). Boost Your Mental Health by Spending Time Outside. News. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/boost-your-mental-health-by-spending-time-outside/

²Harvard Medical School. (2010, July 1). Spending Time Outdoors is Good for You. Harvard Health Publications. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/spending-time-outdoors-is-good-for-you

³McCarthy, C. (2020, October 27). 6 Reasons Children Need to Play Outside. Harvard Health Publications. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/6-reasons-children-need-to-play-outside-2018052213880