One of my aims for this year is to get outside a little more. To help motivate me, I’ve decided to take on the #1000hoursoutside challenge again. This is a challenge that aims to balance the average amount of screen time children get with time outside in nature. It’s a great way of encouraging families to spend a little more time outside.
This will be my second time taking on #1000hoursoutside, having managed to do it in 2020. Having done it once before, I know that it’s an achievable target, but I also know that it does take quite an effort to get those hours in. It works out at an average of 2 hours 45 minutes outside every single day. That’s easily doable in the summer but much harder to manage on a cold wet winter’s day!
One of the main things I learned from doing the challenge two years ago is that it was harder than I thought to catch up the hours in the summer. I’m determined to get off to a better start this time around. My average daily outdoor time in January and February last time was just over an hour. This time, I’m aiming for at least 1.5 hours outside each day in the winter months.
I’ll be focusing on logging my own outdoor hours this year. The aim of #1000hoursoutside is to encourage more outdoor time for children, but as I won’t be able to track all their outdoor time, it makes sense just to focus on my own. They’ll be with me for a significant proportion of that time anyway!
How I’ll be increasing my outdoor time
Here are some of the ways I’ll be getting those outdoor hours in:
- Walking to school and preschool each day. With Sophie now at junior school and Thomas at preschool, the school run has got longer. On preschool days, I get an hour outside just doing the school run. Mondays is a particularly good day for getting in outdoor hours through just doing the normal routine as walking Sophie to and from her drama group that day means I clock up 1 hour 45 minutes of outdoor time without doing anything else.
- Signing Thomas up for Tots Go Wild forest school sessions. Having a regular outdoor activity to go to each week, whatever the weather, is a great way to encourage us outside!
- Taking my laptop out into the garden (weather permitting) and working outside. I got lots of outdoor hours in last time doing this!
- Getting out for an afternoon walk each day with Thomas before school pick-up time.
- Taking Thomas to the park while Sophie is at her evening dance classes once the evenings get lighter again.
I might not manage the full 1000 hours, but having that target will encourage me to get outdoors more. There will be times when it feels like an additional pressure to get outside, especially when indoor jobs are calling me, but I know from last time, that I will always feel better for having made the effort to take a break and get outside for a while.
Good luck with the challenge! 2 hours and 45 minutes a day is a lot!
Tots Go Wild forest school sessions sound great. I’m sure Thomas will have a lot of fun getting muddy on wet days – it’s so much more fun when you’re a kid ;o)
#MMBC
Thank you, it is a lot but hopefully we’ll manage it.
This sounds like such a great challenge. You are great at getting outside so I don’t think it will be a problem for you and your family. The school run really helps with outside time. x
Thanks Kim. I’m looking forward to trying to get outdoors a bit more this year.
I hope you reach your target once again but, even if you don’t, your kids will have had a great time outdoors! Mine also loved climbing trees 🙂
Thank you – having a target will at least encourage us outdoors more even if we don’t manage the full 1000 hours.
Sounds like a great idea – being outside is so healthy and brings joy. Love the photos of kids climbing trees! #MMBC
Thank you Carol, it’s good to have the incentive to get outside a bit more.
I’ve not tried this before although we’ve been working on more outdoor time. We have been walking to school and back weather permitting. It is great exercise.
Walking to and from school is great exercise. Even better if I’m trying to keep up with Sophie when she’s riding her bike to school!
I love this, it is great getting outdoors especially with children, we always used to love getting out and about. Good luck with your challenge
Thank you, it’s good to have the extra incentive to get outside a bit more.
What a fantastic idea! Getting outside is so good for well being. I might try and join you on this challenge.
Thanks Annette, it’s such a great way of giving us more incentive to get outside.
Sounds like a great idea to get out more. I used to love setting challenges with the kids when they were younger. I miss getting out now as my children are all grown up and my dog died last year. It feels so strange going out on my own so I don’t do anything now. I am looking for another dog again now though so hopefully soon I will get out more. Enjoy getting out and having lots of fun 🙂
Having a challenge definitely helps to encourage us outside a bit more. I’m so sorry that you lost your dog last year. I can imagine it must feel very strange going out on your own having been used to having your dog with you.
This sounds like a great challenge and I may have to join in with it. Going for a long walk tomorrow so perfect time to start
Thank you. It certainly helps encourage us to get outdoors more. Hope you enjoyed your walk.
It warms my heart to see children playing outside, rather than sat in front of a screen#mischiefandmemories
Thank you Karen. We’re all happier for some outdoor time.
SO HARD to log those outside hours when it’s cold and icy! Good for you!
Thank you. It is so much harder to get outside when it’s cold.
This sounds like a lovely challenge. I like going for walks up the towpaths here to get some outdoors time, but they are so muddy at this time of year. Good luck with your goals. xx
Thank you. It must be nice to get out for walks along the canal, although muddy towpaths are not so nice.
Sometimes just having a goal can really help motivate you. Good luck with the challenge x #mischeieveandmemories
Thank you, it does help to have a target to aim for.
This is great. I’m a big believer in the importance of being outside as a way to improve mood and balance. Unfortunately its just been too cold here the last few weeks and I can definitely say that we are all a bit irritable. Good luck and good for you #mischiefandmemories
Thanks Jeremy. We tend to get a bit irritable too when we’re cooped indoors for too long. Hope the weather improves and that you can start getting outside a bit more soon.
What a great challenge idea!
Thank you, we’re enjoying it so far.
This sounds like a great challenge so I might sign up next year! Thanks so much for guest hosting with us on #MischiefAndMemories
Thank you for having me, was lovely to guest host with you.
Loving this! You have inspired me to try and work on my laptop outside. Great idea. I don’t do well if I don’t get outside lots especially at this time of year so I do a few workout classes outdoors every week and walk the kids to school each day. Thanks for hosting #Mischiefandmemories with us xx
I love sitting outside with my laptop – it makes me feel better being able to get some outdoor time in while managing to get work done too! Thanks for having me as a guest host, I enjoyed it!
What a wonderful challenge! I love to be outside as much as possible. Although it has been over 40 degrees outside these last few weeks in Australia, so its far too hot to spend much time outdoors haha. The stark contract to a UK winter. #MischiefandMemories
Oh yes, 40 degrees is not much fun to be outside in! Hope it cools down soon.