With today being Earth Day, I thought it was more appropriate than ever to talk about our appreciation for the great outdoors. I’m guessing, like me, that while I have always enjoyed time outside, especially when the weather is nice, none of us have ever appreciated it more than in the last 6 weeks.
With so many of our beaches, parks and hiking trails closed, it can be hard to find ways to enjoy our time in the sun. Today, I’ve outlined a few ways we have all gotten creative with getting outside. I can truly attest that a little time outside each day makes a big difference in our demeanor.
Exercise can serve the dual purpose of getting our bodies active while getting in that much needed fresh air. My daughter and I have gone on lots of walks and even mixed in a little running too. My son has rediscovered his love for mountain biking and even found a few trails that are still open. My husband has also joined him for a few rides. Getting our heart rate up along with the added vitamin D can make the difference between a good day and a bad day around here. You just have to get creative with where you can exercise that is still open and allowed with social distancing.
My daughter has taken several of her creative projects into the outdoors which gives her something creative to do while enjoying the sunshine. She recently created the chalk art above but has also custom painted some old Vans tennis shoes, painted some extra paver blocks we had for our backyard and has done some tie dying. Each activity has kept her busy for awhile and she has made some cute things along the way that she will likely always remember came from this very strange time.
Our backyard has been under construction for the last couple of years while my husband has been redesigning it himself but it is at least at a point where we can put some chairs outside and just lay out in the sun or just take a much needed break from work during the week and just sit outside for a little bit. I have debated taking my laptop outside a few times and likely will revisit that as the weather gets warmer but it’s also a great excuse to enjoy a good book or get your journaling time in for the day.
And finally, as we all get used to our new way of life, I think we have found some safe, social distance ways to connect with friends and family while staying safe. We have had a few driveway happy hours or garage dinners with family that have been so good for our souls while still allowing us to get out from the four walls of our house. A good laugh or conversation, especially while relaxing with a drink outside, can be so uplifting for our spirits right now.
What are some ways you have made the most of being outdoors during this time? We are always looking for new ideas in this new normal world we live in right now. Here’s to hoping we will have lots more options to soak up the sun in the near future.