5 minThis blog was written by Kari - De Groene Mama - in collaboration with VitaminFit. In this blog, Kari challenges you to take part in an autumn or winter challenge! Read on to find out more!
The days are getting shorter, darker, wetter and colder. Everything in me is calling to stay indoors, where it's warm and dry. A lamp, a book, a blanket, a warming cup of tea. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that: it's a very natural reaction to want to turn inward during the winter months. Nature also retreats. Both animals and plants turn inward, return to their essence, become still. Rushing around 365 days a year goes against nature.
But it is important to keep going outside, even in the colder months. Among other things, for vitamin D intake, but also for clean, fresh air, for exercise, for staying connected to the elements and the trees and plants. That's why I'm going to take on a challenge this autumn and winter. I'm going to challenge myself to go outside every day – preferably during those important vitamin D hours between 11:00 and 15:00. But if a nourishing outdoor activity takes place at another time, that's fine too. In this blog, I share 7 inspirations for being outside more often in autumn and winter.
Lunch walks
A lunch walk is the most accessible way to spend more time outdoors in autumn and winter. Every day from 12:15 to 12:45, take a walk in the area around your home or work. That way, you'll be getting the most vitamin D, you'll have half an hour to clear your head during a busy (working) day, and you'll be getting some exercise. I work from home as a self-employed entrepreneur, so for me this means going for a walk in the park next to our house. It's tempting to combine the lunch walk with practical errands – shopping – and on very busy days I'm sure I'll do just that. But I'm going to try to make it a real moment of relaxation among the trees.
Forest walk
We live 25-30 minutes by bicycle from the forest. These are distances that I easily cycle every day on my electric cargo bike. And although I plan a museum visit every week, in recent weeks I have failed to make time for forest walks. As soon as the weather deteriorates, those walks drop to once a month instead of weekly. So I've simply scheduled them back into my diary. It may not be possible every week, but it will be every other week!
Cold dipping
Last year, I started cold dipping. This involves sitting still in cold water and breathing. Usually, you also do breathing exercises beforehand, for example from Wim Hof. You can start with 30 seconds and slowly build up to one or several minutes. There are several benefits to both cold dipping and breathing exercises, for both your physical and mental health. I do this once a week, very early in the morning, before the working day begins. I don't always feel like it and I don't do it when my resistance is low, but when I do, I feel much better.
Walking through the dunes and on the beach
It will probably be alternating: one week in the woods and the next week in the dunes and/or on the beach. Walking among the trees does something different to me than walking on the beach. The trees always suck up all my energy immediately. I can let go of everything, especially when I walk with classical music or an audiobook or when I stroll through the woods with the children. On the beach, I often find myself in a different mindset. I can think more clearly and put things in order. It feels much more like “me against the elements”, because of the wind, the waves so close, the repetitive steps in the sand. The sea air is healing, I'm convinced of that.
Surfing
Last summer, I surfed for the first time. And although I won't be able to continue doing this throughout the winter, I definitely want to surf more often in the autumn and spring. I'm still trying to find a routine for this, because I'm dependent on good waves. The good surfing days don't always coincide with the days when I can go. But I keep an eye on it and, when I can, I jump on my cargo bike and catch a few waves.
Endurance sports
This autumn, I also rode a racing bike for the first time. I found it incredibly exciting and didn't go very fast. But I really enjoyed it and definitely want to build on it. Here too, I am dependent on the weather: if there are leaves on the roads and paths and if it is wet and slippery, it becomes dangerous. But on dry, clear days, I can easily take my bike and go cycling for an hour or two.
Slowing down – walking to the museum
I visit a museum every week with my museum card. Sometimes with the children, sometimes alone or with my partner or friends. For me, art is just as healing as nature. It nourishes my soul. And the current cultural season is fantastic: there are so many good new exhibitions. So I definitely want to continue this relaxing and inspiring activity in the autumn and winter. But I can make it more of an outdoor activity by walking to the museum more often. Recently, for example, I walked to the new exhibition at the Rijksmuseum. It was lovely walking along the canals in the beautiful autumn sunshine. A delightful half-hour walk, followed by a few hours of strolling among the works of art. I'm all for that!
