Well… more like 365 Hours Outside Challenge.
Towards the end of 2023, I stumbled upon a challenge called 1000 Hours Outside. This challenge is just as it sounds—to increase children’s time spent outside. This challenge inherently combats the overwhelming amount of screen time children have on a daily basis. Read my original post HERE.
1000 hours per year equates to almost 3 hours of outside time each day, which seemed impossible to me. So I started 2024 with the goal of spending 365 hours outside. (An hour a day, that’s much more realistic for a newbie like me).
The year started out rough, I’m not going to lie! With a total of 2 hours 35 minutes in January and 10 hours 20 minutes in February, I was almost certain that a goal of 365 hours was completely out of reach. But once the weather improved and our house recovered from the plague, our outside time slowly increased. The winter months were definitely the worst of the year.
January: 2 hours 35 minutes
February: 10 hours 20 minutes
It was much easier to get outside in the warmer months. I really enjoy doing yardwork, going to the zoo, or even just sitting outside in the sunshine. We really started to pick up momentum in the spring and early summer.
March: 31 hours 10 minutes
April: 47 hours 30 minutes
May: 53 hours 5 minutes
June: 50 hours 35 minutes
We had a lull in July—probably the scorching heat. We got an above ground pool set up towards the end of summer, so it was easier to beat the heat once that was up and running. The fall was very enjoyable and we maintained a good pace of outside time.
July: 22 hours 10 minutes
August: 44 hours 45 minutes
September: 46 hours 30 minutes
October: 39 hours
The start of winter was tough. Between Chase being gone, the chaos of the holidays, and just lacking motivation, we only got 11 hours and 25 minutes in December. I was hoping to end the year a little stronger, but that’s okay.
November: 23 hours 45 minutes
December: 11 hours 25 minutes
2024 Total Outside Time: 388 hours
Overall, I’m proud of our progress for 2024. I spent more time outside this year than I think I would have if I had not done the challenge. I learned to prioritize time spent outside, not only for myself, but also for Avery.
We also made new friends along the way! One day this summer I saw a post in the 1000 Hours Outside Facebook Group—a picture of a little girl about the same size as Avery, with the caption of “Does anyone live in Shelby County, Kentucky?”
I was shook. What are the odds that, in this worldwide Facebook group, someone from my small town would also be participating? And also have a daughter the same age as Avery? We met up for a playdate and instantly clicked. We had several things in common, and the girls also got along well. We started meeting up on a regular basis to get outside time in.
Having weekly (or even sometimes daily) playdates has helped keep us accountable, try new things/places, and given us a sense of community within this worldwide challenge.
What’s the goal for 2025?
I am definitely excited to continue this challenge in 2025. Last year, I made a goal of 365 hours. This year, I don’t have a specific number in mind (yet), however I’d like to beat last year. We were so close to 400 hours in 2024, so maybe we will hit 500 this year? I’m not sure yet.
I also want to do better in the winter months this year. I’m trying to be more proactive about getting outside, even when the temperatures seem miserable. I’ve invested in more quality clothes and am learning to layer better. Luckily, Avery doesn’t seem to mind the cold.
Here’s a slideshow of some outside activities we’ve gotten to do:
What outside activities should we try in 2025?
-M
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