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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Cal Poly chapter.

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, spring is the best time to take advantage of getting outside more. Spending more time outside cannot only make you feel physically better, but mentally as well. Finding small and simple practices to spend more time outside everyday will help to relieve stress, sharpen focus and clear the mind. Listed below are five easy ways to get outside this spring. 

 

Do homework outside 

Take advantage of virtual classes and flexible academic schedules to spend more time outside when working on homework or studying. This could mean sitting outside at a coffee shop, going to an outside study spot on campus, or finding a quiet park to work at. Studying outside will not only help to get you more outside everyday, but it will also destress and help you to focus. If you normally study, do homework, and attend virtual class all in the same spot, like your room, a change of environment can be great when feeling like you need to clear your mind and get motivation to do work.

Walk to nearby places you would normally drive to 

This is a great habit to start practicing and will help you to save money on gas while also getting in a little more exercise and time outside in a day than you normally might. Getting into the habit of walking is a great way to save money and stay healthy. If you do this enough, it will eventually become a great habit. This practice will not only benefit the environment, but you as well!

Have picnic dinners with friends

This is an activity that has become very popular since the pandemic, and is a great trend to continue. Having picnic dinners, or just eating meals outside, is a fun outing to do with your friends or significant other while spending time outside in nature. Sunset picnic dinners are very popular and some great spots to do these in SLO are Prefumo Canyon or Terrace Hill. 

Make morning or evening walks a part of your daily routine

Making going on walks a priority in your daily routine is another great habit to get into. Many times our busy lives do not leave us with a lot of time to take care of ourselves on a daily basis, but making at least one walk a day a priority will help to improve your energy for the day as well as helping you manage time. Morning walks are a great wake to ease into your day and clear your mind before getting into any work or other tasks. Evening walks are also great for winding-down and after a long or busy day. 

Plan more outside activities 

While a simple tip, planning outside activities is often done less than we think. However, the pandemic has shown us that there are plenty of fun outside activities to do, and pandemic or not, spending more time outside versus inside is a great habit to get into. Springtime is perfect for this because as the weather gets warmer, the range of activities to do outside grows too. Next time you are making plans with friends, try a hike or beach trip, especially if you normally do activities indoors. 

Gillian is a fourth-year at Cal Poly SLO. She is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Child Development. Gillian is the Social Media Director and a writer for Cal Poly Her Campus this year. She enjoys writing about sustainable fashion, social issues, and current trends. Even though she is planning a career in psychology, she loves being a part of Her Campus because it allows her to have a creative outlet and continue her passion for writing.
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