Today, we spend less time outside than ever before, even during the best time of the year to get outside, the summer!
But enjoying the outdoors isn't reserved for the surf instructors in Costa Rica or the fitness coaches who run outdoor bootcamps.
Don't worry, at Rise Bar, we've got your back. We came up with a list of the 5 great outdoor summer activities to get you outdoors on a beautiful day.
#1. Plan a Picnic
Mix things up and skip the traditional date by planning a picnic.
You could flip a coin to see who takes charge of the location (but gentlemen, you should probably handle this one).
Some of our favorite places include:
A bike cruise to Heisler park in Laguna Beach, CA.
Bring your own picnic basket and enjoy a day of wine tasting at Malibu Wines.
Take a stroll through Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Temple in the Pacific Palisades (they also offer free yoga classes) and end the day with a late picnic lunch on the serene grounds.
#2. Try Outdoor Meditation
Our culture is obsessed with time. Yet, we are the poorest of managers when it comes to managing time.
You're always trying to do more. And it seems like you’re holding your breath every minute due to the hurried pace of your life.
You don't have to be a Zen master in order to reap these benefits either. In fact, you can start with a simple guided practice of 10 minutes a day. Headspace is meditation made simple. It's like a personal trainer for your brain.
#3. Take a Coffee walk
Instead of posting up inside the coffee shop, grab your favorite drink and take a stroll around the neighborhood. Aside from the physical benefits, walking allow space for thinking and ideas to take form.
Friedrich Nietzsche said “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking."
To make it even better, be intentional about picking a coffee shop you normally don't go to. This will add some free adventure to your stroll. (We suggest snacking on a Rise Bar too).
#4. Support your local farmers market
Forgo the cereal box aisle, skip the dairy section, and avoid the temptress call of the cheesy Doritos and choose your local farmers market instead. You'll not only have a chance to pick up some fresh produce, but you'll also be supporting local farmers.
When you buy direct from the farmer, you're re-establishing a time honored connection between the eater (you) and the grower. Getting to know your farmer will also give you some amazing insight on the seasons and the miracle of growing food. Plus, supporting local food builds community.
If you've got an open day with nothing planned, you can road trip across town to some of the best farmers markets to throw in some adventure.
Oh, and don't forget studies show that organic food at farmers markets costs less than most grocery stores. Bonus.
#5. Incorporate play into your day
Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is critical to healthy brain development. We all agree upon these things when it comes to children.
But when we grow up, our crayons and building blocks are replaced with computers and time sheets. Essentially, our play time gets stripped from us and we are expected to produce results and only focus on outcome based activities.
Frisbee golf, paddle boarding, trampolining, playing catch with your kids, andoutdoor twister are all great ways to get outside and play.
Admit it. You've sat at home on beautiful summer days before mildly frustrated at what you should do.
Those days are gone.
Instead settling for delivery or staying in for another Netflix binge, you can now actually look forward to the Summer season. You've got list of ideas to choose from and all of them are outdoor activities. Get outside this Summer and enjoy the sunshine, maybe we'll see you at the local farmers Market!
