Turning the page on a fresh year gives us a brand new opportunity to be a better version of ourselves. That's pretty exciting, and it is the perfect opportunity to start making some eco-friendly changes. It's the kind of thing we all want to do, especially after we have faced truly terrifying Climate Change news and ecological disasters this year. 

Becoming eco-friendly seems like a daunting commitment, but you can actually make a huge POSITIVE impact on the world just by making some easy small changes. If we all resole to make a few SUSTAINABLE changes this year, 2019 could be a turning point for our world. New Year's Resolutions can be all about changing habits, so why not stick with the junk food and make the world better instead?

Want to do something that will make the Earth cleaner and your life better? Resolve to spend more time outside this year! I'm going to tell you why it's worth it and how to start some habits that will actually keep.

This isn't the time of year we usually want to get outside, but we can do it, and once you start, it is pretty addictive!

How It's Good for You

It is well-proven that spending our time outside is one of the healthiest things we all aren't doing. This article breaks down the benefits pretty well, but here are some boiling points:
 - Nature can help us restore our mental and physical energy. It's proven to be especially good for easing depression.
- It boosts our immune system, upholds our eyesight, can reduce inflammation, and might even prevent cancer according to this article.
- Time in nature reduces stress and increases short term memory and creative thinking.
- Nature makes us happier- the same activities done outdoors makes us happier than doing them inside.

For goodness sake,  is there anything that being in nature doesn't do?

That's the good news. The bad news is that our generation is less outdoorsy than any in history. We spend too much time on screens, in urbanized spaces, and not enough outside and in the wild. You know the schtick. We all know we SHOULD go outside more, but it certainly shook me to see just how extensive and awesome the benefits are.

We also know that being outside is even more important for children. The effects of being outside greatly benefit their brain development and has shown to be helpful to kids with ADHD and other attention problems.

Last year, I read How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott Samson. I think it should be required reading for every parent, as it shows just how important nature and unstructured time are for kids. Plus, his chapters on how to mentor are just so good. If you are a parent, read this book. The key point is that getting kids out into nature is as simple as using local natural spaces and engaging with nature ourselves.

Now, in all honesty, I may be the world's least outdoorsy environmentalist. I have never been an animal lover (I don't hate them, but I don't really get the big deal. I like things that can talk). I have never felt any sublime peace looking at a leaf or a tree- I would rather observe in an art museum. I find relaxing and quiet times very stressful (hence, writing an informational blog as my hobby). I grew up in the country, but I just saw the outside as the space to stage my imaginary tales. I do LOVE to garden, weirdly enough (haha! Unweed this garden, chaos monster toddlers!), but I am certainly not the poster child for enjoying the great outdoors.

That said, we set this as a goal last year (one hour outside a day) and actually did well enough at it that now when I don't take my kids outside for a few days in a row, I am antsy about it. I discovered in 2018 that for whatever reason, I am a better mom outdoors.

 I say this because I want you to believe that you don't have to be Gaia Earth Mother to get something out of time outside. Investing that time will make you better at your job, happier, and even improve your brain function! Literally you could be a superhuman if you would just get outside. We are all superheroes waiting to happen.

Why It Is Good for the Earth

Ok, yeah going outside is (REALLY) good for us, but how could I rank it up there with refusing plastic or eating less beef?

It's hard to save something you don't love. Don't believe me? Ask every superhero ever why they have to have some curvy lady watching when they blow things up (for humanity's sake). Love is an essential part of what motivates us. Getting out into nature, taking hikes, growing food, even just sitting and listening to the birds sing can deepen our appreciation for nature.

And not just the nature that is the rain forests, or glaciers in the arctic, or the ocean at sunset. Not just the nature that is far away, that we only see in pictures. But the nature we live in, that we pass everyday, the nature that we are.

We can all suffer from the false belief that nature is out there somewhere, so when we throw things away, we can falsely assume that an "away" even exists. When we shop for virgin tree toilet paper, we don't have to face how long it took to grow the tree we are wiping our butt with.

Much like our intentional ignorance around unethical labor, our alienation from nature basically gives us permission to ignore our guilt in mistreating the Earth. It doesn't mean we aren't responsible for this mistreatment, and I think ignoring it (so we can just keep on doing what we want to do) is rotting us from the inside (I see this especially in the Christian church).

So getting out there and really connecting with nature so we feel responsible for it again takes courage, but we NEED to do it if we want to do right by the Earth and future generations.

How to Get to It

30 Minutes a Day of... Anything Outside

We tend to think of being in nature as something we GO to do (like get in the car and drive to, take a long flight, etc), but you live in nature right now, you just have to find it.

 Please, please get out there and visit national parks this year (they certainly need our help more than ever), but think smaller too. You aren't as far from nature as you think. Just head outside everyday or 5 or 3 days a week (what you can keep up with is best). Plant something. Read, even if you are cold. Just rant about how cold it is for 20 minutes and then drag your achey joints inside. Just start living more of your life intentionally outdoors. Walk your dog. Take yourself for a Walk on your Lunch Break.

If you are creative, you could go out and sketch. Keep a journal. Make connecting a priority.

Grow Something

For me, starting a garden turned out to really help me connect with nature. I like having something to do, so I am always ready to run off five minutes into a beach day. But growing something turns out to be really great. We grow some of our own food now, but if you didn't have a lot of space, you could just have a herb garden.

 Get to Know your Parks and Woods

You could try making a list of the State or National parks (or freaking playgrounds if you need to keep it simple) that are near you, maybe that you always mean to go to but never quite make it there, and go on 10 exploration adventures this year. This could be such a fun challenge!

Commit to a Time

Go for a walk every day on your lunch break. Go outside for half an hour every night after dinner, regardless of your weather. We usually go outside when everyone has finished their nap. Sometimes it is as simple as committing to a particular time, because it is easy enough to put it off another day.

Another way to do this might be to sign up for a retreat. I know our church does them, but you can find all sorts of retreats out there.

Join a Group or Program

Joining groups can help you get started and meet other people out to breathe in a little more outdoorsiness. For parents, I love Hike it Baby, which has groups all over the country. So many outdoor groups are already out there, and if you are a socially-motivated person, it might be a great way to get your feet wet.

Rewilding is another program that I have seen raves for. This 30 day program helps you unplug and refocus. Could be perfect for you!

Make some Money, Build some Muscle

Feel like you just can't find the time? Why not kill two birds with one stone (figuratively! You are a bird lover now, right?)? If you are short on cash, why not sign up to be a dog walker. You can make money, get exercise, and spend time outdoors.

Switch Out Your Existing Routine for Something Outside

Other switches? Stop going to the gym and go for runs outside (saves you money too, but then you have to run, which sounds terrible). Walk instead of taking public transit. Have you date night in a park instead of a restaurant. Go for hikes instead of brunch.

Want to Do More? 

Maybe you already spend a lot of time outdoors- awesome! Turn that love into action by supporting the organizations that are fighting to protect the outdoors like the Sierra Club or The Wilderness Society. Check out what is local to your area and take care of the natural world where you live. Even better, volunteer for regreening or highway cleaning or anything else that takes care of the nature you are in. So important- you can make a huge difference!

Want more ideas for resolutions that will take care of the Earth and make your life better? Check out our whole list of resolutions here.