Outdoor Activities in Autumn and Winter
For those in the Americas, the clocks go back this Saturday night. Although this does mean an extra hour in bed, it also harkens in earlier sunsets and longer hours of darkness. However, it is vital to our health to get outside and breathe some fresh air. Therefore, in today’s blog, we highlight some outdoor activities safe for kids and adults alike. Additionally, we touch upon why the clocks change twice a year.
Why Are the Clocks Changing?
An easy way to remember which way the clocks change is to think of the seasons; in Spring the clocks “spring forward”, meanwhile in Fall the clock “fall back”. We are about to experience the latter… but, why?
Well, it’s all to do with daylight.
In the summer time, the sun rises at 4.30am. However, most people are still asleep then. By changing the clocks forward an hour (from 4.30am to 5.30am) it allows everyone to make the most of the daylight and participate in outdoor activities in the evening.
But, by the time winter comes around, those in the Northern hemisphere start to experience shorter day anyway. This is because of the rotation and axis of the Earth. With little need for the summertime clock adjustment, we regain the hour. And, with it, comes later sunrises and earlier sunsets.
So, how can we make the most of outdoors when its cold and there’s limited daylight?
Outdoor Activities in Autumn and Winter
First, let’s look at the positive effects of going outdoors.
- Boost Your Energy. 20 minutes outside is comparable to 1 cup of coffee.
- Exercise Easier. Seeing greenery encourages a more positive mood.
- Strengthen Your Immune System. It’s great to pump your body with fresh air — plants release chemicals that increase our levels of white blood cells. Thus, helping us fight off infections and diseases.
- Restore Focus. Strolling in the outdoors helps us to remember the value of the important things in life, and helps to put things into perspective.
- Intake Your Daily Dose of Vitamin D. Although this nutrient is present in foods like salmon and milk, you get more than 90% from casual exposure to sunlight.
Let’s get outdoors!
Check out these outdoor activities that make the most of the limited amount of sunlight!
- Walking! Journey into forests, follow lantern trails, and traverse beaches in search of rockpools. Just, don’t forget to wrap up warm!
- Collect trinkets! Conkers, big leaves, pinecones — make the most of finding fallen items this Autumn.
- Craft! Use your found objects to create bird feeders or in leaf crafting! Additionally, you can use the weather to try out some nature-based art projects.
- Picking! Apples, pumpkins, and autumn berries, oh my! Use the darker evenings as an excuse to get baking a variety of breads, cakes, and pies.
- Nature watching! Many birds migrate for the winter — keep an eye for the chance to see different varieties flocking near your garden.
- Campfires! Although it may be getting a little cold and wet for camping, you can still toast marshmallows and bake jacket potatoes in the great outdoors. Just remember that your wood needs to be dry for it to alight.
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