Embracing a healthy lifestyle is an ongoing struggle for many Americans. Whenever we stop to think about losing control of our health in our fast-paced lives, we find ourselves analyzing nutrition labels and signing up for spin classes. We wonder if we should buy organic for our kids or sign them up for Tai Kwan Do. But wouldn’t it be nice if we effortlessly lived with the healthy habits we try so hard to import into our lives?
By furnishing your outdoor space, active time with family and friends can become a reality of your everyday life rather than a luxury you have to work to squeeze in. Families who invest in outdoor living and play spaces often find themselves more engaged with each other and living more actively. Here are three reasons why:
- Exercise
One of the greatest outdoor amenities for promoting a healthy lifestyle is the play set. A lot of parents worry that a play set won’t get enough use for the investment, but I could not imagine my childhood without the endless hours of playing on our outdoor playground.
But it’s not just a play set that promotes physical activity. Any type of lawn furniture means more family time outside, and kids are more likely to use the yard space to run around. Even a shed gets families up and moving. As a kid, my best friend’s dad grumbled about the bill every time the lawn service came to do the landscaping. He said he wanted to do it himself but didn’t have the storage for the lawn equipment he needed. When they finally bought a shed, he got addicted to landscaping and lost twenty pounds just from gardening and mowing the lawn!
- Healthy Eating Habits
My personal favorite part about outdoor living is being able to eat outside. Whether I’m enjoying my morning coffee with the birds, having a family dinner outside on a beautiful night, or celebrating Memorial Day with a barbecue, there’s nothing like it.
You might associate outdoor eating with burgers and dogs, but according to mayoclinic.org, grilling is one of the healthiest ways to cook food. And it lends itself to a whole array of nutritious snacks and meals that cook in a matter of minutes, from grilled pineapple to salmon to veggie kabobs.
- Bonding with Family & Friends
Besides the fact that being outside keeps us sane, it also strengthens our emotional bonds with family and friends. Having a neighborhood barbecue is one of the best ways to feel a sense of community. Making s’mores around the fire pit outside and playing wiffle ball together are the times when families really come together. To this day, I remember the backyard swing set as the place my mom and I made some of our funniest memories together. Instead of watching TV while waiting for dinner like most kids I knew, my brothers and I would play “slide tag” on our outdoor play paradise. We grew to love running and the outdoors.
Whether you’re running around, gathering with friends and family, or simply getting out of the house, investing in your outdoor space is one of the most useful ways to move toward healthy living.