As we roll into a new year, it seems mamas everywhere are grasping at straws. How can we enliven this year? Give it a fresh run? Make the most of Pandemic, Round 2?
I know, how about we set a really wild and crazy goal? Let’s spend 1,000 hours outside in the next 12 months! I'm sure you've all seen this challenge all over social media by now, printables and all.
In all honesty, this sounds wonderful
I love hiking with my kids. I love serving meals on our backyard picnic table, and exploring new parks and playgrounds is totally our jam. I even notice better behavior from my kids the more time they spend outside. Like Erin Kenny said, “Children cannot bounce off the walls if we take away the walls.”
Bring on the great outdoors!
But, let’s be realistic: 1,000 hours outside just isn’t going to happen
At least not where we live. Not with our daily schedule. Not with my current mental state.
For the families embarking on the 1,000 Hours Outside challenge, I commend you, truly. I love the idea behind this campaign. The entire purpose of "1,000 Hours Outside" is to attempt to match nature time with screen time. If kids can consume media through screens 1,200 hours a year on average, then the time is there, and at least some of it can and should be shifted toward a more productive and healthy outcome!
Cheers to that! I'm all for minimizing screen time while elevating time experiencing nature.
But let’s talk logistics…
My kids do a fair amount of school online right now – not all day by any means, but their daily math curriculum, some class Zooms here and there, and a weekly art class. Even their book club is facilitated online right now. I plan breaks outside – at least a 30-minute recess while I prep lunch – and we walk to the mailbox most days. But if I sign us up to check off 1,000 hours, we would need to hit an average of 2.75 hours outside each day.
When you compare that to our given 24 hours, I understand that three-ish hours isn’t much, but with school and meals and sleep, I just don’t see it happening. Oh, not to mention that I live in the Pacific Northwest where it is WET more days than not.
The weather isn’t my biggest issue with spending 1,000 hours outside, though. We have rain gear – full rain suits and the best rain boots on the market. I could make it happen if I really wanted to. My issue is 1,000 hours outside would become another attempt at a most likely unattainable goal.
This year, I need grace
I need less benchmarks. I do not need a chart telling me that we are hours behind on what should be a fun experience.
So, we are taking the heart of 1,000 hours outside and being intentional with our time outdoors. Getting out on the days we can, planning adventures, learning about nature, and breathing all the fresh air our lungs can hold. But that’s all. No numbers. No big goal. Just the best we can.
