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Human beings are adapted to a life that’s mostly spent outdoors. Modern buildings are a fairly recent invention on an evolutionary scale, and spending too much time inside them isn’t good for our bodies and minds.
But all of this might not be enough to persuade you to step outside the front door every day. What’s really required, if you’re going to spend more time outdoors, is a hobby.
There are lots of reasons to love walking. Firstly, it provides endless opportunities for exercise. It’s low-intensity, and you don’t need any special equipment to get into it. The chances are good that you can already do it to a high standard, which means that everyone can get involved. It also provides ample opportunity for you to meet new people and socialise with like-minded walkers. Walking has long been recognised for its therapeutic qualities, too, with some of the best minds in history spending hours every day putting one foot in front of the other.
Tending for a garden requires that you get outside and forge a connection with the natural world. You’ll get the satisfaction that comes with tending to a varied selection of flowering plants and the warm glow that comes from being in the presence of your finished garden. Whether it’s a small box on your balcony, your back garden, or a community allotment, a garden can be endlessly rewarding. You might cultivate fragrant sweet peas or any of several edible plants for use in the kitchen. As such, gardening can also help to support the right diet.
If you have a passion for animal life, then you might spend a little bit of time birdwatching at the weekend. You might view this hobby as a cousin of fishing: you’ll spend a lot of time waiting patiently in the same spot. All you need here is a pair of binoculars, a decent knowledge of the birds you’re looking for, and a suitable location. You’ll find plenty of hides in your vicinity, or you can look for the birds in your own garden.
Outdoor photography is endlessly rewarding since you’ll always just be one step away from the next amazing wildlife shot. You can get started using the camera on your phone before making the switch to a DSLR camera with a long lens. Look to visit local parks, forests and other wildlife hotspots, ideally at the right time of day.
This is a collaborative post.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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