By Eli Bishop
It’s a strange time for us as GetOutside Champions at the moment. How can we inspire others to get outside safely during COVID-19? Here's 15 ideas to get you started.
Firstly, visit the GetOutside Inside Hub or follow us on social media. Back during the Spring lockdown, Rory Southworth walked up Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon, ran a half marathon, dunked in a wheelie bin and lead a virtual trek to Everest Base Camp - all from his home. Inspired by Rory, Lisa Wells dusted down her 90’s exercise step and walked her favourite Welsh mountains, whilst David Mellor entertained us all with the home schooling of his children and their daily outdoor antics in the garden.
So there is lots out there to inspire and encourage us all to find different ways to keep active and still have outside time within the restrictions.
For me the focus is always on maintaining my mental health as well as my physical health. There is a great deal out there to cause us anxiety and stress so limiting social media and news time is paramount. But also, not all of us have access to beautiful rolling hills or picturesque beaches from our front door, many of us are in towns and cities. However we can all get outside in some form every day, and it doesn’t have to be much but it can be meaningful.
So here are 15 ideas that you might like to
have a go at. Have a read, the key is to be fully engaged in the activity so
maybe leave the phone to one side for 15 minutes. After all, only 15 minutes a
day, spent soaking up the sunlight is proven to help mental health, so no
excuses!
Have fun with it and share what you’re up to (after you've done it) on social media using #15Outside
If you don’t have access to a garden, balcony or local outdoor space, then sitting by an open window in the daylight will be just perfect!
It could be a novel, a magazine, kindle, comic book but maybe not a newspaper as you want to switch off.
It's so simple. Lie down, or sit by the window and look up at the sky, watch the clouds, the birds flying and switch off.
Take your daily cuppa outside, turn the phone to silent and slowly sit, listen and chill
There are lots of apps and online tutorials for Yoga and stretch exercises you can do, but rather than doing it inside head outdoors for 15 minutes with your mat. There's so many alternative outdoor workouts you could do, it can be as simple as Rory and Lisa and their step challenges, or download an app and follow a routine, just do it outside if you can!
Taking 15 minutes to sit and follow a guided meditation is a wonderful thing to do. Again there are lots of apps and online guided meditations that you can follow or just sit, comfortably. Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking one of your favourite walks, or sat on a warm beach as the sea rolls in and out. Breathe in for the count of 8, hold, breathe out for the count of 10, hold and repeat.
Wherever you are, in the garden, on the balcony, sat by the window we can start really looking and seeing what it out there. You could have a little notebook and record what you see each day. Be it birds, insects, different types of trees, plants.
A great one to do with the people you live with! If children find letters hard then play it using colours.
Yes this involves getting outside properly, but why not dust down the bike and go out for a ride? You never know you may fall in love with it all over again!
When you go on your daily exercise why not walk around your neighbourhood and check in on some of the local sights that ordinarily pass you by. Are there any blue plaques near you? If so go find out why! You could combine this with some local history research and find out a bit more about where you live. Use the OS Maps Greenspaces layer to find local spaces you never knew existed - but go careful remember!
Such a lovely activity to do when the weather is on our side. Taking time to sit and watch as the sun rises or sets.
Get baking, get cooking and then take it outside. Grab a blanket and have a picnic, there is no reason you can’t do this every day. Unless its raining of course!
Most supermarkets at the moment have some gardening stuff in store so maybe grab some packets and get planting. Really simple stuff that will see good results are pea shoots, salad leaves, spinach or get yourself a mini herb garden. Sunflowers and sweet peas are great with the kids.
This may sound mad but get a washing up bowl of water, take your socks off and sit with your feet splashing in the water. Water is proven to help relax you so why not! I mean who’s to see?
It isn’t just for kids you know! Build a den then have a picnic!
Or enjoy a Silent Disco - pop your headphones on, get an awesome playlist on and dance!
Remember to leave the phone on silent - take a couple of snaps to upload later but no mindless scrolling during this time! And if you are setting out on a short local adventure be safe, keep your distance from others and don’t take any unnecessary risks.
Published 27/04/2020
By Eli Bishop
Eli Bishop is happiest climbing mountains and paddling rivers for mental wellbeing.
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