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Get inspired to keep your mind active and body fit by taking up one or more of these outdoor hobbies and activities this year.
Outdoor Hobbies
If you’re spending a lot of time isolated at home, outdoor hobbies and activities are an important way to keep both your physical and mental well-being in a healthy state.
Despite restrictions, there are still plenty of things you can do outside that are safe, fun, and don’t need too much equipment to get started.
1. Running
The beauty of running is that it is quite simple to do. All you need is a pair of comfy sneakers and lighter clothes to run in.
Before you run, think about the area you live in. Try to run in parks, in woodlands, or on quieter streets and lanes where there are fewer people. Even a 10-15 minute run can do wonders for your fitness and mental health.
2. Gardening
If you have your own garden, you can start small by planting seasonal flowers, trees, and herbs. Once you build up your confidence, you can start growing your own fruit and vegetables.
If you don’t have a garden or live in an apartment complex, look around for a nearby allotment. Gardening is therapeutic and allows you to spend plenty of time outdoors, breathing in the fresh air.
3. Fishing
Fishing allows you to spend time nearby rivers and lakes without having to get wet. A little understanding and some basic equipment, including a rod, is all it takes to get started.
Even if you don’t catch any fish, you’ll be spending quality time outside calmly and safely. When you do finally catch your first fish, the thrill and satisfaction will have you hooked on this outdoor activity, pun intended!
4. Photography
You don’t need large, bulky equipment to be a skilled photographer. Nowadays, even inexpensive smartphones have excellent cameras.
Photography is a great way to spend time in your local area, exploring both nature and points of interest. Once you’re happy with your photos, you can also enjoy the activity indoors, editing and enhancing your photos.
5. Paddleboarding
Paddleboarding, similar to fishing, is the ideal activity to spend time at lakes and rivers in a calm, enjoyable way.
As long as you know how to swim, paddleboarding is suitable for people of all levels of fitness. All you need is a paddleboard, paddle, and space in or on top of your car to drive to nearby water.
6. Tennis
The natural distance between competitors when playing makes tennis perfect for socially-distanced exercise.
With some simple exercise clothes, a tennis racquet, and a few tennis balls, all you need to do is locate a nearby court and invite up to three friends to play.
The stop-start nature of tennis makes it ideal for people of all skills and fitness levels. Plus, you will not need to come into contact with anyone on or off-court.
7. Badminton
Similarly to tennis, badminton is a great way to exercise and play competitively with friends of all skills and fitness levels.
With a racquet, shuttlecock, and court booking, you can partake in a fun activity while staying safe and socially distanced.
8. Camping
Camping allows you to spend quality time outside without needing to partake in any strenuous activity.
Suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels, the beauty of camping is in the control you have. You can decide where to camp and for how long.
Naturally, you will need some cool camping gear to make your afternoon, evening, or weekend a comfortable and enjoyable one. Once you’ve got your tent and essentials, go forth and embrace the great outdoors!
9. Hiking
Hiking is a wonderful way to enjoy the wonders of nature in a safe, relaxed way. You can hike in areas you are comfortable, keeping a safe distance between you and your party.
Depending on the terrain you are hiking, it’s a good idea to equip yourself with a few hiking gadgets to make your trip more comfortable and enjoyable.
10. Cycling or Mountain Biking
Plenty of us have bicycles in the garage, gathering dust. So why not roll them out and start exploring the local area around you?
To keep yourself safe, be sure to get a helmet. Invite some friends, and enjoy wonderful bike rides along cycle tracks or through nearby woodlands and parks.
11. Water Sports
If you live near a river, lake, or the sea, there are plenty of fun water sports you can try to stay fit and healthy in a safe way.
From open-water swimming to kitesurfing, have a look online at the options near you. Many water sports will have clubs you can join, and will provide the equipment needed.
Water sports such as kayaking allow you to keep your distance from others while still being part of a larger group.
12. Rock Climbing
If you are new to rock climbing, rock climbing centers are a great place to go with your friends. Rock climbing is challenging, fun, and can be tailored to suit your skill.
Once you are more confident, you can start rock climbing outdoors with an expert who knows how to set up the ropes and equipment safely.
13. Geocaching
If you want to be a part of a worldwide community of people safely, geocaching is a great outdoor activity for you and your friends to try.
Geocaching is essentially the world’s biggest treasure hunt. Using GPS coordinates, you can look for hidden caches buried in locations all over the world.
Geocaching is suitable for all ages, and it is a great way to safely spend time outdoors.
14. Outdoor Cinema
Movies don’t just have to be enjoyed on the couch. Look online for nearby drive-in cinemas, where you can go to watch a range of movies from the safety of your car.
If you’re feeling creative, with a few pieces of basic equipment, such as a white sheet and projector, you could also set up an outdoor cinema in your own backyard.
That way, you can enjoy your favorite shows and movies with the added benefit of fresh air and beautiful scenery.
15. Drive-in Concert
Nothing says outdoor fun quite like live music concerts, and a drive-in concert is a perfect way to do this outdoor activity safely.
Plenty of artists are putting on performances for drive-ins, be it in person or virtually from a big screen. Find a drive-in concert close to you and make a fun day of it.
16. Outdoor Picnic
Picnics are a fun and easy outdoor activity and a great way to spend time safely with family and friends.
Find a beautiful place in your surrounding area to visit, and pack a basket full of drinks and snacks for lunch.
There are plenty of summer picnic essentials and gadgets you can take with you, too, to make your picnic fun and memorable.
Related: 100+ Summer Picnic Food Ideas You Will Love
17. Scavenger Hunt
Kids love to explore and navigate independently, and an outdoor scavenger hunt is a great way to do this. You can hide objects such as plastic eggs or boxes in your house, garden, or nearby area and get your children to search for them.
Incentivize your kids to play with treats and prizes, and use walkie-talkies or mobile phones to keep in constant contact with each other.
18. Obstacle Course
Obstacle courses are a fun and exciting way to get creative at home. From old boxes to garage equipment, you can set up a range of fun courses with your children in the garden.
Once the course is ready, you can add a competitive element by timing everyone who participates in the course.
Obstacle courses are a great way to spend quality time with your children in the backyard and are free to do if you use household items.
19. Sidewalk Painting
Children love to get creative and express themselves. While, traditionally, art is done indoors, sidewalk painting is an amazing way to take this hobby outside.
You can use pastels and tracing paper to do rubbings. Or a simple set of chalks or paints can be used to make fun art on many walls or sidewalks.
Be sure to find a quiet area to do it, and double-check you would not be violating any vandalism laws.
There are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors, even with restrictions and distancing in place.
These 19 outdoor activities are a great place to stay and help you break the cycle of being stuck indoors. That way, you can start to move toward a happier, healthier, and fitter you.
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