How To Force Yourself Outside
I am writing this wrapped in a blanket next to the radiator watching the rain drizzle down outside and the droplets race each other down the window. So I get it. In the autumn and winter going outside can feel like the last thing you want to do.But you really must. Autumn is the last time you’ll see leaves until spring, it’s an opportunity to drink in all of nature’s bounty before she goes to sleep for a few months. Going outside at this time of year is the cheapest and easiest way to feel invigorated; cheeks pink from the wind and hair sticking to your face.So to help you heave yourself off that sofa, here are my best suggestions.
Go on a mission
Give yourself a task that you can only do by getting out into nature. Maybe you want to forage the last of the autumn berries or some nettles. Maybe you want to collect conkers to fix your spider problem without resorting to the hoover. Maybe you just want to take some totally Instagrammable pics of autumn leaves. Give yourself a mission and you’ll have to make it happen.
Change up your coffee date
Or, rope in a friend. Rather than just meeting for coffee or a browse round the shops, go out for a walk. Walking with a friend is a great bonding exercise - you talk about real things and you take some awesome selfies. Also if you arrange to meet there (whether that’s the park, a woodland, a National Trust site) you can’t exactly not go. (Note: the photos in this post are from an autumnal wander and a cream tea with my best friend at Basildon Park).
Bribe yourself
Maybe this is just me but I can basically make myself do anything if I promise myself food. Plan your walk to incorporate a nice lunch or a pint at a quaint pub and it not only gives you the impetus to get out the house but also keeps you motivated. You can even just get the marshmallows in and promise yourself a sumptuous hot choc afterwards.
Make it a road trip
It can feel samey going to all your local spots that you go to all the time. So do something more than groceries and X Factor on a Saturday. Get a train to the coast and walk along a windy beach, finishing off with a cone of chips on the front. Drive somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. Visit a woodland or an arboretum, or explore some National Trust parkland. This Forestry Commission map shows you which of their sites are turning golden. Give yourself something interesting to talk about on Monday.