25 Easy Ways to Spend More Time Outside

Spending more time outside does not need to involve long hikes, outdoor workouts or entire afternoons in nature.

Outdoor time can be added to activities that are already part of your day. You can drink your morning coffee outside, walk during a phone call, eat lunch outdoors or take a short break near your home.

The ideas below are designed to work with different schedules, energy levels and living situations. Choose a few that feel realistic and use them to support your daily outdoor goal.

If you are starting a structured challenge, read How to Spend More Time Outside: A Simple 30 Day Challenge first.

Easy ways to spend more time outside in the morning

1. Take your morning drink outside

Drink your coffee, tea or water on a balcony, patio, front step or garden bench.

You do not need to change your morning routine. You are simply moving one familiar activity outdoors for a few minutes.

2. Take a short walk after waking

Walk around your building, to the end of your street or along a familiar route.

Keep the walk short enough that it does not make the rest of your morning feel rushed. Even a brief route can give your outdoor time a clear place in the day.

3. Step outside after breakfast

Use finishing breakfast as your reminder to go outside.

You could stand outside for a few minutes, check the weather, water plants or walk around the block. Connecting outdoor time to breakfast makes it less dependent on remembering at a random point later.

4. Walk part of your usual journey

If your surroundings and schedule allow it, walk part of the way to work, school, a shop or another regular destination.

You could park slightly farther away, leave public transport one stop earlier or complete a nearby errand on foot.

5. Create a pretend commute when working from home

Take a short walk before beginning work, then return home as though you had arrived at your workplace.

This creates outdoor time and a clearer transition between your morning routine and the beginning of work. More ideas are available in How to Get Outside More When You Work From Home.

Ways to add outdoor time to your workday

6. Spend part of your lunch break outside

Take your lunch outdoors or use the final few minutes of your break for a short walk.

If an entire lunch break is not practical, start with five minutes before returning to work.

7. Take a phone call outside

Move a suitable personal call or audio-only work call outdoors.

You can sit, stand or walk depending on your surroundings and whether you need to take notes. Always choose a safe, quiet place and keep confidential conversations private.

8. Walk between tasks

Use the completion of a task as a cue to step outside briefly before beginning the next one.

This can work particularly well after a long period of concentrated desk work. The break does not need to be long enough to disrupt your schedule.

9. Complete one simple task outdoors

If practical, take a suitable task outside. You might read, plan your day, review notes or answer a few non-confidential messages.

Choose something that does not require carrying a complicated workstation outdoors.

10. Suggest a walking meeting

If a conversation does not require a screen, documents or a private setting, ask whether it could happen during a walk.

A walking meeting will not suit every discussion, but it can be an alternative for informal planning or catching up with a colleague.

11. Use an outdoor space during a break

Look for a bench, courtyard, sheltered entrance or green space near your workplace.

Knowing where you can go removes one decision from the moment your break begins.

Simple outdoor activities for afternoons and evenings

12. Take a short walk after work

Use an outdoor walk to create a transition between work and the rest of your evening.

The walk can be around one block or along a longer route. Choose a length that you can manage on an ordinary workday.

13. Eat a meal or snack outside

Move breakfast, lunch, dinner or an afternoon snack outdoors when the weather and your surroundings allow it.

You do not need a garden or picnic setup. A balcony, front step or nearby bench can be enough.

14. Read outside

Take a book, magazine or e-reader outside for part of your usual reading time.

This is a useful option when you want to spend time outdoors without turning it into exercise.

15. Listen to something outdoors

Listen to an audiobook, podcast, music or another audio programme while sitting or walking outside.

Pairing outdoor time with something you already enjoy can make the break easier to repeat.

16. Take an evening screen break outside

Replace a few minutes of scrolling or television with time outdoors.

You could sit quietly, walk nearby or take a drink outside. Keep your phone in your pocket if you want the break to feel separate from your usual screen routine.

17. Watch the sky change

Step outside to watch the sunrise, sunset, clouds or changing evening light.

This gives the outdoor break a simple focus without requiring you to plan another activity.

Outdoor ideas that do not feel like exercise

18. Sit outside and do nothing

You are allowed to spend your outdoor minutes sitting still.

Use a chair, bench, step or another safe and comfortable place. You can watch what is happening around you or simply take a quiet break.

For more low-energy options, read Does Sitting Outside Count? Easy Ways to Get Outdoors Without Exercising.

19. Take a hobby outside

Try journaling, sketching, knitting, photography, puzzles or another portable hobby outdoors.

Keep the setup simple so that preparing for the activity does not become a barrier.

20. Care for outdoor plants

Water plants, remove dead leaves, check a garden bed or spend a few minutes tending containers on a balcony.

You do not need a large garden. One small outdoor plant can give you a recurring reason to step outside.

21. Complete a small outdoor task

Wash a bicycle, sweep a step, collect the post, tidy a balcony or prepare something for the following day.

Everyday tasks can contribute to your outdoor goal even when they do not feel like a special outdoor activity.

See Outdoor Activities That Do Not Feel Like Exercise for additional ideas.

Ways to make outdoor time more social

22. Meet someone for a walk

Suggest a walk instead of always meeting indoors.

The route does not need to be long or demanding. You can walk through a neighbourhood, around a park or between two places you were already planning to visit.

23. Make a regular outdoor plan with someone

Arrange a weekly walk, outdoor coffee or visit to a nearby park with a friend or family member.

A shared plan gives your outdoor time a specific place in the calendar.

24. Spend time outside with a pet or family member

Play in the garden, take a short walk or sit outside together.

Outdoor time can be part of family or social time rather than another activity you need to complete alone.

One simple way to explore somewhere different

25. Visit a nearby outdoor place

Choose a local park, walking path, waterfront, market, garden or neighbourhood you do not usually visit.

You do not need to travel far or plan an entire day out. A nearby destination can make an ordinary outdoor break feel more interesting.

How to choose which outdoor ideas to try

You do not need to complete all 25 activities. Start by selecting a few options for different situations.

Create a simple personal list:

• one option for the morning
• one option for a workday
• one option for low-energy days
• one option for poor weather
• one option you can do with someone else

This gives you alternatives without requiring you to invent a new activity every day.

If you are not sure how many minutes to choose, read How Much Time Should You Spend Outside Each Day?

Make outdoor time part of an existing routine

An outdoor activity is easier to remember when it follows something that already happens regularly.

For example:

• After breakfast, I will take my drink outside.
• When my lunch break begins, I will walk for 10 minutes.
• After work, I will step outside before sitting down at home.
• After dinner, I will take a short walk.

Choose one reliable cue instead of waiting until you happen to feel motivated.

How to Build a Daily Outdoor Habit That Fits Your Routine explains how to create a repeatable structure. If busy days are your main difficulty, use the reminders in How to Remember to Get Outside During a Busy Day.

Adapt your idea to the time and weather

The easiest outdoor option may change throughout the year.

A morning walk may work well during one season, while an afternoon break may provide more comfortable conditions during another. Compare different schedules in Morning, Lunch or Evening: When Is the Best Time to Go Outside?.

During colder or darker months, prepare a shorter route, suitable clothing and an option close to home. How to Spend More Time Outside in Winter contains more seasonal strategies.

Always adapt your plans during extreme heat, cold, storms or poor air quality and follow local safety guidance.

Track your outdoor time for 30 days

Ideas become more useful when they support a clear daily action.

Choose how many minutes you want to spend outside each day. Then select an activity from this list and complete one circle whenever you reach your goal.

The 30 Day Get Outside Path is a printable tracker that helps you make this progress visible.

Your daily action is simple:

Spend your chosen number of minutes outside and complete one circle when you reach your daily goal.

You can also learn more about the possible role of daylight, movement and natural environments in What Are the Benefits of Spending Time Outside Regularly?.

Choose one easy idea, begin your Path and focus on completing today’s outdoor goal.

Explore the complete Get Outside printable collection for more outdoor challenges and trackers.