Haven’t heard of vitamin G? This is what experts call time spent outside, in green spaces. Outdoors time can help reduce stress, improve school and work performance, reduce ADD and ADHD symptoms, ease depression, promote healing, and increase life expectancy! A Japanese study of time spent outside found that interaction with the great outdoors can increase your odds of survival by as much as 15% over five years.
The bad news: the average American spends way too much time stuck inside according to studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Kids are spending 7 more hours per week on homework.
- Kids are spending 2 fewer hours per week playing sports.
- Annual family vacations have decreased by nearly 30%.
- National park attendance has been declining steadily over the past few years.
Are you ready to add more vitamin G into your family life? Here are some ideas to help you get started.
- Get the family involved in gardening. Studies show that children who garden are willing to eat more vegetables! Pick hardy crops so you are guaranteed a reward for your gardening efforts — squash, radishes, and tomatoes are good starters.
- Invite nature into your garden. A butterfly garden or bird feeder can help bring local wildlife into your backyard.
- Take advantage of that barbeque grill! Cook and eat outside — try meat and veggie kebabs for a main course and grilled fruit (like pineapple and peaches) for dessert.
- Take your meals to go. Pack a picnic and spread a blanket under your favorite tree.
- Camp out in the backyard. Pitch a tent and grab your favorite board or card game for instant family fun. Children who learn to love camping early may want to get involved with programs like Outward Bound later in life.
- Learn the constellations (and the stories behind them). Lay outside at night and watch for comets or take turns telling your favorite star stories.
- Take at least one workout or family activity per week to the park. A study from Sweden found that people who ran in parks found 15% more refreshed than people who ran on treadmills or city streets.