Question: What does play mean for you? Is it important?

The average person in North America and Europe spends 90% of their time indoors[1]. If you live to be 80 years old, you will spend 73 years indoors!

How much time did you spend outdoors this week?

During this week I spent on average 1 to 2 hours outdoors each day. On the weekend I faired better getting up to 5 hours on Sunday outside. That still means on average I am between 80-90% of my time indoors. Scary right?

We are inherently wild animals and are connected to nature

We are inherently wild animals and are connected to nature. We get so many health and wellness benefits from spending time in nature. I am currently reading a book called The Wild Silence[2], which describes so beautifully how we can heal ourselves from a wide range of modern alignments and diseases by connecting more to nature. It even mentions a scientific study which shows how the chemicals released from plants react with us positively.

When you last were immersed in nature, how did you feel?

Nature can heal us physically, mentally and spiritually.

More and more scientific research is pointing to the health and wellness benefits of being immersed in nature. However, we generally becoming more and more isolated from nature.

I was listening to an amazing podcast recently from Deepak Chopra[3] (A prominent figure in the New Age movement releasing over 93 books on alternative medicine). He mentions the power of play! We should awaken our inner child and play more.

In an article[4] he wrote, he mentions that play for adults “increased problem-solving, creativity, productivity, and group cohesion. Play reduces cortisol — that stress-producing hormone — and releases endorphins. It also helps keep depression at bay, improves cognitive health, and lowers the risk of developing age-related neurodegenerative conditions like dementia.”

It sounds like a no-brainer, why take life so seriously? Why don’t we play more?

What does play look like to you?

What would a life of outdoor play look like for you?

What can you do today to make your life more playful?

What are your thoughts on play and the outdoors? Please comment below.

P.S. Sorry it has been a while since I last posted, life seemed to get in the way.

[1] https://www.buildinggreen.com/blog/we-spend-90-our-time-indoors-says-who [2] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Silence-Raynor-Winn-ebook/dp/B07YN6LB6P/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2TW0X27MGTZHU&keywords=the+wild+silence&qid=1683892067&sprefix=the+wild+silen%2Caps%2C259&sr=8-1 [3] https://open.spotify.com/episode/1xkBuIcplIzK67czQL2Ti2?si=525088952d504204 [4] https://chopra.com/articles/awaken-your-inner-child-to-the-joys-of-play