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🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop

This new year, are you looking forward to reflecting and resetting your lifestyle with clear intentions?

January has long represented a time for a fresh start. Not only is this a new month, but January marks the beginning of a whole new year, giving us a clean slate to change for the better.

A popular goal many include in their lists (but often fall short on) is finding time to spend outdoors. In this blog, we’ll give you a few simple ways to achieve this, without feeling the need to change over your whole lifestyle completely.

Avoid Unrealistic Expectations

It is far too easy to get caught up in the fun of turning over a new leaf, but remember, this time is meant for setting achievable goals, not necessarily completely reinventing yourself.

So, avoid setting yourself up for failure by setting goals that are impossible to achieve, as this will only lead to feeling discouraged halfway through the year.

Instead, take a moment to reflect on your current lifestyle. This will give you insights into your current routines, where you are in your life at the moment, and what goals may seem achievable with your schedule.

Easy Ways To Spend Time Outdoors

So, your goal for this year is to spend more time outdoors, but you don’t know where to begin. The good news is, you don’t have to immediately go all in with a treacherous mountain hike or an intense trail run at a location that is 40 minutes away from your home.

While the above activities are certainly a lot of fun, they might not always be a convenient everyday option. So, here’s what we propose:

1. Morning meditation in your garden

Often, we get caught up in wanting to spend time outdoors at scenic trails or mountain tops, and we forget what's sitting right in our backyards.

Enjoying a brief, yet peaceful moment outdoors in your own garden is such a simple way to incorporate more time outdoors.

Whether you choose to enjoy a brief meditation or if you simply want to sip your coffee and enjoy the busy birds chirping away, the choice is up to you.

My studies have suggested that beginning your morning with some intentional quiet time is a fantastic way to clear your mind and reflect on the day ahead.

2. Enjoy lunch outside

If your job requires long periods of sitting behind a screen, then lunch is the perfect time to briefly switch off and get in some outdoor time.

Something as simple as enjoying your meal outdoors, soaking up the sun, or breathing in the fresh air can improve your mental health and help you stay focused for the second half of your day.

3. 3 km Dash After Work

While this suggestion is fun, it might take a bit of planning. But adding a fun and quick 3km dash after work is such a quick way to get in some outdoor time while improving your cardiovascular health.

Simply pack your running clothes, change at the office after work, and enjoy a run in the neighbourhood. You can map out your route beforehand, in preparation, if that is preferred, or simply run where your heart desires.

Turn it into a fun team-building event if you’d like and invite a few colleagues to join. Over time, you can measure your progress and adjust the distance/speed according to how your body is feeling.

4. Weekend Urban Hikes

Don’t have time to get to a remote trail every weekend? Not a problem, because the urban hike is another great way to enjoy some fresh air outdoors.

Experience your city as a tourist, and explore it on foot, enjoying some landmarks it’s known for. If this piqued your interest, then learn more about what urban hiking entails in our previous blog!

Stay Ready For Any Adventure With Merrell

Any time spent enjoying the great outdoors is an adventure worth having. Nature offers us so many benefits, such as reducing stress, boosting our mood, and even enhancing our immune function.

Even just a few moments outdoors can make all the difference. The best way to follow through on these goals is to stay ready for any adventure that comes your way.

When you slip on your favourite pair of Merrells each morning, you are making a promise to yourself: to move, explore and embrace activity no matter how spontaneous the plans are.

With footwear that can support you through it all, you’ll never have to miss a moment of fun!