In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, exploring and connecting with the natural world around us is easily lost.
Whether it’s spending all day in your cubicle or classroom or binge-watching your favorite Netflix show, we tend to spend more time inside than outside. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, people in America spend a whopping 90% of their time indoors.
Isn’t that crazy? No wonder we’re stressed out, burnt out, and anxious – we’re not immersing ourselves in a genuinely life-giving space!
Not only does science back up the soothing and de-stressing effects of getting outside more, but its importance is carried throughout the Bible. Our Creator can speak to us, teach us, and provide for us through nature. So while getting outside is great for our physical and mental health, it’s essential for our spiritual health.
You may think all this sounds great and you’re ready to spend more time outdoors but don’t know where to start. Keep reading!
Where to Get Started
Where do you go when you don’t know what/where/how to do something? Google! A simple Google search should help you find lots of local parks to explore.
You can start by looking up “best nature spots near me.” Or, if you want to be more specific, search for these things in your area:
- State Parks
- Nature Preserve
- National Wildlife Refuge
- Nature Conservancy
- National Forest
- National Parks
Or, if you’re set on doing a specific activity and want to find the best place to do it, search “best place to ________ in the area.” For example, if I wanted to go biking one day, I would look up “best place to bike in the area” or “best biking trails near me.”
Yes, I know this all sounds elementary, but as a full-time RVer traveling around the U.S., these are always my go-to things to research when exploring a new city or town.
Helpful Websites
Here are some other helpful websites to kickstart your 2023 outdoor journey:
AllTrails – Home to a vast library of trails for multiple outdoor activities. Other features it offers are tracking your hike, reviews from people who’ve completed the trail, and the ability to download the trail map so you can use it without cellular (need AllTrails+ to do this, but otherwise, it’s free).
Discover the Forest – Another great database to help you find a forest or park in your area. One quick search can show you tons of great outdoor spots near you.
The Nature Conservancy – This is an excellent resource for finding things to do in nature and preserves near you. It also shows you opportunities to volunteer in your community to help the environment. Getting outside more while helping the planet? Sounds like a win-win to me.
How do you plan on getting outside more in 2023? Let me know in the comments below! ↓
Want more tips on how to get outside in 2023? Scroll down to sign up for the newsletter and receive the FREE Close to Creation Beginner’s Guide!
