Getting outside in nature is one of the best ways we know to ground ourselves and feel the life breathed back into our hearts. We have both been feeling the effects of so much time at home and realized we were missing nature. There is something to be said about a nature walk or even just spending time outside in the backyard. The sun, the fresh air are so rejuvenating and good for the soul.
Not only is getting outside good for the soul, it is SO good for your body! We found some interesting facts about How Much Time you need in the sun for it to be beneficial to your overall health.
Always protect your face and top of your ears at the beach, because those are the most sun-exposed and sun-damaged skin areas.
Allow 10 to 15 minutes or so of unprotected sun exposure to your arms, legs, abdomen and back. After that, follow up with good sun protection, like a 30-SPF or higher sunblock.
Choose the right time of day. "If your shadow is longer than your body height, you can't make any vitamin D," Holick says. Between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the usual window for significant sun exposure, he says. He's helped develop the dminder app, which uses multiple factors – time of day, location and skin type – to recommend optimal sun exposure and provide sun-safety warnings.
Both of our families enjoy spending time outdoors. Hiking, nature walks, exploring...there is always an adventure to be had. Where Leah lives in Utah there are endless mountains and hiking trails. It is absolutely spectacular to get out in the fresh mountain air and enjoy the wildlife, scenery and get in some exercise.
Leah spent the weekend making sure she got her family outside as much as possible. Saturday started with some rock painting, getting in some Vitamin D and getting out some creativity!
Sunday was a walk around a new park with some cute baby ducks and many opportunities for photos!
Elizabeth moved to Texas last year and enjoys getting out and exploring new places. Heading out on a bike ride and going on gator "hunts" with her family are a favorite. They have been lucky enough to see quite a few gators on their expeditions. They are also only an hour from the Gulf of Mexico and looking forward to when the beaches reopen!
We have found that a simple family walk in the evenings after dinner really help lift everyone up. Some of our favorite outdoor activities are family bike rides, hikes, nature walks. Even doing things that are as simple as sitting outside in the backyard together painting rocks, playing spike ball or jumping on the trampoline.
All of these activities and more are so good for your mental well being and physical health. We have both found that if we're feeling down or anxious taking it outside helps to lift us up and snap us out of a funk. The same goes for our kids. If they're seeming overly cranky or struggling to push through their school time sending them outside for some fresh air usually does the trick to get them back on track.
Let us know what outdoor activities you are doing with your family to GET OUTSIDE! :)
Spile Ball is one of my kids favorite outdoor activities right now. Our backyard is pretty small so they don't have a lot to do back there, but they can go out and spike the ball. It's a great way to get out that nervous energy and have some fun.
We bought Razor scooters years ago and they are still going strong! These are a great way to bring the kids on a walk with you. They have more fun than if they were just walking, and they keep a better pace.
Don't forget the sunblock if you're going outside. I really like this Alba Botanica brand. It doesn't leave that weird powdery residue that most sunblocks do, it can feel slightly oily. But it absorbs well into the skin and I feel it offers good sun protection. We've used this brand the last few summers and it has done well for us.
Even my big kids love digging in the sand whether at the beach or just in a nice dirt patch. Sand toys are always a hit and help to let those imaginations sore!
Comments