The secret to regular outdoor activity in our household is super simple: get outside every week at the same time. Schedule it. Put it on your calendar. Do it regularly and with predictability. Team sports have regular schedules, so why not outdoor family activity?
Right now, as I write this in the middle of winter, it’s definitely harder to keep to a regular outdoor commitment. But, in spring 2020 when everything was shut down, every Sunday morning was our family hiking time. Only heavy rain kept us at home. And it was glorious. The boys didn’t push back as much about getting out because it was just a thing we did on Sundays.
During the summer, my brother and I also found success through scheduling standing playdates. Every Thursday was pool day. Fridays were adventures in my area. Sure, sometimes we made changes due to weather or other commitments, but it was nice to know that regular time was blocked off.
Now that school is in session, we have regular socially distanced and masked playdates with the boys’ other remote friend on Tuesday afternoons. Thursdays mean soccer practice with my best friend and her family. We rotate backyards and add dinner to the mix. Then we all have a good time. 😉 But the key is to plan on it with regularity.
<p value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80">Admittedly, this tip isn't rocket science. But it works. Spend some time scheduling stuff NOW. Then stick to it as much as you can.Admittedly, this tip isn’t rocket science. But it works. Spend some time scheduling stuff NOW. Then stick to it as much as you can.