I consider myself a highly functioning anti-social introvert. I could spend (and have spent) days in a row at home alone, not stepping outside those four walls once. I’ve gone days without talking to friends. I love to plan solo-trips to cabins in the woods, away from everything and everyone.
And, yet, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown to understand that balance is necessary — and so is getting outside. I’ve noticed that my spirit feels lighter and brighter when I push myself to get out of the house and go somewhere. There’s something in the fresh air that just fills my lungs in a different way, something about the way the light shines on my face, even on a cloudy day. The air, the trees, the grass, it all just fills my chest with joy as I’m instantly reminded — this is what I was missing, this is what I needed.
If you’re like me and often find yourself inside too often, I would encourage you to try to get outside more often!
Getting Outside (While Saving Money)
These are a few things have helped me get outside to touch some grass without costing me a bunch of money:
- I found a walking trail that I love. I am lucky enough to have a nice walking trail in my hometown. When I’m feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just like it’s been too long since I’ve seen the light of day, I like to go and spend time walking on the trail. It’s always gorgeous outside, and I can feel my chest and mind getting lighter the longer I walk. It’s great for my health – physically and mentally. Since I travel so often, I always try to find nice trails wherever I go!
- I treat myself with visits to the library. Do I own an insane number of books? Yes. Do I still rent books from the library? Yes. Do I always read all of the books I rent from the library? Nope, and that’s okay. For me, it’s about the experience of getting out of the house, seeing some sunshine, interacting with lovely humans (every librarian I’ve met has been insanely kind), and browsing shelves of books that you’ve browsed dozens of times before for at least an hour (I always seem to notice something different). Getting to support my local library is an added bonus!
- I fell in love with finding beautiful places outside to read. There’s no denying the coziness of reading a book while curled up in your bed or your favorite chair. But I also love reading in random beautiful places, especially if I’m surrounded by nature. It breaks the monotony of my normal routine while still allowing me the comfort of enjoying one of my favorite hobbies. I get to soak in all of the benefits of being outside without any commitment to interact with others or be active, if I’m not feeling up for either. Even something as simple as reading on my back porch first thing in the morning has made for an amazing start to the day.
Getting Outside (While Splurging a Bit)
These are a few things that have helped me get outside to touch some grass but definitely cost me more money than the list above:
- I enjoy the experience of going to the movie theater. While it isn’t an outside activity (unless you go to a drive-in, which I would totally recommend), it still gets me outside of my home. I’ve gone by myself and with friends, and I always have a great time — even when I don’t enjoy the movie. It’s another way to break my normal routine, while watching movies with a huge screen and great audio quality as I munch on buttery popcorn. Leaving the theater and stepping back into reality feels like a brand-new experience every time, and I love to have a post-watch yap.
- I have so much fun going to coffee shops. Whether I’m working, reading, journaling, writing, or whatever, it’s infinitely more fun to do from a coffee shop for me. I get to taste specialty drinks that I’d never go through the effort to make at home, and I get to interact with a wide variety of chill and kind humans. There’s something lovely about the atmosphere of a coffee shop, and how it can spark productivity and calm in me. I’ve been to more coffee shops than I can count in my lifetime, with many more ahead of me I’m sure, and while I have favorites, I’ve never come across one that I didn’t enjoy.
- I treat myself to restaurants, new and old. I really love food of all kinds. Sometimes when life gets crazy busy, I’m lucky if I remember to make myself an instant meal, let alone something nicer. Going to a restaurant feels like a nice thing, even if I’m just going to a local diner. It gets me outside of my home, but it’s also me taking care of myself by making sure that I’m fed. Not only fed but fed with delicious food that I didn’t have to prepare or clean up after, which is some of the best food when life is feeling crazy.
- I take little day trips to nearby cities. Because I’m lucky enough to have a remote job, I have driven 2 hours away to work from a coffee shop in another city and meet a friend for dinner. I don’t do it often, but it’s always fun when I do. I also will take day trips on the weekend to go hiking, spend time with friends, visit independent bookstores that I love, and/or visit great restaurants. Going somewhere completely different is a great way to get outside for me.
Unfortunately, the reality is that there are barriers for some, whether they’re because of health problems, limited transportation, where you live, etc. However, if your barrier is something that’s possible to work around, I would encourage you to do so.
You’ve seen it time and time again – in a digital age where it’s easier than ever to connect with others, we’re more disconnected than ever. What we see online is often not a good representation of or replacement for day-to-day interactions. So many times, the world can seem on fire if you’re just looking at the news or whatever is coming across your social media feed. But, if you step outside, you might see something completely different.
Maybe if you go to a coffee shop, you’ll see friends chatting over cups of coffee. As you read on a bench at a park, you might see families out with smiles as their little ones wander near them. At a new restaurant, you could spot couples that remind you that sometimes the romance books don’t get everything wrong. Maybe you’ll see sunlight, proof that the world is still turning. Maybe you’ll see the kindness of others, which can feel so far removed from the responses we see online.
This world is incredibly flawed, there’s no denying that, but it’s still beautiful. It’s still there. And we’re all still a part of it.
Thank you for exploring with us! Until next time, may the pages and paths ahead of you be great.
