Put down the smartphone and go outside

A few weeks ago, my husband and I volunteered to take his cousin's kids to the playground right by his brother's house (and by volunteered, I mean got shanghaied into.  Kids can be very persuasive and have memories like an elephant when it comes to playtime!).  We only lasted on the playground for about 15 minutes before I convinced them that it was time for dessert and we should go back inside. (It wasn't, but oh well.  They went inside.)

It was a gorgeous day out and the kids were having a ton of fun and I even got in on the action by swinging and trying out the monkey bars (which was a total fail) and racing them down (and up) the slide.  But, I was also terrified that they were going to get hurt on my watch - they were fearless!  Flipping upside down on the rings, jumping from the monkey bars, and climbing on things in ways that I'm sure they were not meant to be climbed on.  I'm pretty sure I said the phrases "be careful" and "don't do that" more in those 15 minutes than I have in the last year.  (My dad would probably beg to differ - he claims I tell my dog not to do things way too much.)

But now that I'm thinking about it, I probably shouldn't have been too worried.  The odds of them really hurting themselves were probably pretty slim (and my husband and I were always close enough to prevent any serious falls).

More importantly, they were having a great time getting both exercise and fresh air.  They weren't sitting inside playing video games or staring at a computer all day.  They were running and jumping and sliding and swinging and laughing and smiling.

These are all things that I like.  All things that, when I was a kid, I looked forward to. 

I used to love playing outside, whether it was organized sports or just running around the yard with friends or my siblings. I still love to be outside, and still love to be active, but now they both feel much more like a chore.  Something that I have to do for my physical and mental health. 

Something that needs to be checked off the list (and boy do I love lists). 

Instead of something to look forward to doing at any free moment during the day, whenever you can convince mom and dad (or in this case, my boss) to let you outside for just a few minutes.

At what point in life did outdoor activity turn from fun to just another thing to add to the list? At what point did it turn from playing and laughing and being active to just being exercise? And how do you turn back to before that point? How do you become a kid again at heart and in mind, while still being in an adult in body (and, you know, being responsible and having a job and all that jazz)?

I feel like this is an especially hard thing to accomplish now that the weather is getting cooler, and we're much more apt to want to stay inside and hibernate.  But kids don't hibernate.  They want to get outside. 

So, here's what I've come up with to get outside more as the months get colder.  If you have or can find a kid to accompany you, even better.  If not, just grab some friends, or in some cases, go it alone. 

• Play SPUD or steal the bacon or king of the hill. Or manhunt or tag (any of the numerous varieties) or red rover (this one probably hurts a lot more as an adult). Just think back to whatever you used to love playing in gym class or summer camp, assemble a group of friends, re-explain the rules, and go for it.  You'll get yourself moving and have a ton of fun before you can say "Red rover, red rover, send Megan right over."
• Join a league. Dodgeball, kickball, soccer, softball, tennis.  Whatever it is.  I have a friend that plays in a dodgeball league and she loves it.  You get to throw rubber balls at other adults and not get yelled at or arrested for it.  What's not to love?
• Find a kid and take them to the playground (because you'll get weird looks if you go alone) and actually play with them.  Challenge them to a race across the monkey bars (it's a lot harder than you remember!) or see who can swing the highest or climb up the slide the fastest (I know that's not how you're supposed to use it, but it's fun!). 
• Play a pickup game of soccer or basketball or softball or football.  You don't need to be able to field a full team, and you don't even really need to play by the rules.  Just have fun with it.
• Rake yourself a nice pile of leaves and then run through them. Jump into them. Pick up piles and throw them at your friends.  Then re-rake and repeat. 
• Build a snowman (or a sandcastle in the summer or if you feel like freezing your butt off at the beach). Rolling a pack of snow around the yard to make the snowman body can be tough work.  And, decorating it will get your creativity flowing, giving your brain a little workout as well.  Win-win. 
• Go sledding (when it's snowy out, obviously.  Which hopefully won't be for a few more months).  Walking up the hill is a great leg workout, and sledding down will bring you back to your childhood. 
• Have a snowball fight.  It's a great way to release any aggression you have all under the guise of having a good time.  Just don't aim for the face.  That's not cool.

So, who wants to come over an play with me?  I promise, it will be fun.  And we can have hot chocolate and Dunkaroos for a snack afterward.

What other outdoor activities remind you of your childhood while also helping you sneak in a good dose of healthy movement and activity?