Some great ideas for getting your Vitamin N(and D)

The National Institutes for health have identified these benefits of nature through their research: 

• 10 Minutes of gardening or time in a garden can help with symptoms of depression

• 20 Minutes spent hiking among trees or bird watching has shown to reduce the hormone that causes stress

• 30 Minutes spent simply sitting or watching activities in a park can lower your blood pressure and heart rate

• 45 Minutes or more of hiking trails has significantly higher physical rewards than the same amount of time spent walking on a treadmill, like less fatigue and higher levels of alertness.

• 60 Minutes spent actively interacting with or in a nature setting doing things such as hiking, walking, cycling, or kayaking can boost your memory and attention span by 20%

With all the benefits, it’s hard to argue against getting some time outdoors. We all know the basics of outdoor activities but we've put together a list for more ideas to get you enjoying the benefits while reaping the health benefits as well! 

Activities fun to try with your kids (or if you are a kid at heart):

• Get a pair of long jump ropes and start a double dutch challenge.

• On the same line grab some sidewalk chalk and draw a hopscotch game.

• Plan a scavenger hunt with simple items for your kids to find around the park

• Play Flashlight Tag

• Camp in your backyard.

• Plant some flowers or vegetables

• Teach them to fly a kite

• Make and bury a time capsule 

Activities to do at the drop of a hat:

• Take your dog for a walk

• Read a book outside or at a park

• Go window shopping in a nice walkable area of town

• Stargaze (you can even find an app that helps you find out what you are looking at)

• Sketch some wildlife

• Find a good spot to watch the sunrise or sunset

Activities that might turn out to be hobbies:

• Try geocaching

• Join  a Volkssport group (ava.org)

• Take up Disc Golf

• Take up archery

• Go fishing

• Get a metal detector and see what you can find.

• Learn to fly a kite

• Volunteer for a park / beach / river clean up

• Try birding

Thanks to Costco Connection May 2021 edition for some of these great ideas.