How often should you do this?

Post Reply New Topic

In general how many hours a day and how many days a week should you leave the house and get fresh air to stay healthy (mentally and physically)?????

Its nice to have days when you don't leave the house so you can chill out and play video games etc...

I don't think it's the same for everyone. I "need" to go out every day, and often most all day, or I feel cooped up.

Charles

I'm finding as I get older (late '40's) that if you don't keep active, things start to fall apart. I'm not talking mountain climbling - walking, biking, etc. are good.

I leave my apartment almost everyday.... when I go to my car so I can drive to work. And I do the same... when I go from work to my car, so I can get home. Other than that, I don't get out much, unless I go to buy something at a store. Does this count? I assume in general that the air is fresh on my walk from the front door of my apartment to my car. I mean, sometimes my apartment complex smells, but then again, my sense of smell isn't reliable so it could always smell bad, but I like to give it the benefit of the doubt.

In my case I try to get out for a 30 minute walk most days, even in the winter. On the days I don't I miss it both physically and mentally.

I find some sort of exercise, whether deliberate or incidental helps.
I also find I need to get out at least every couple of days, otherwise I start getting cabin fever.
Exercise wise, my current routine is 25 mins on an exercise bike 3 days per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), on these days I also do 100 abdominal crunches, 2 x sets of 50.
I also swim usually once a week unless I am very unwell (I've only missed about one or two weeks a year for the past 5 years).
My swimming routine: I do 300 squats in the pool, then 20 laps with flippers and a kick board.
I then do 20 laps swimming; currently 10 laps breast stroke, and 10 laps freestyle.
I do mix it up some, sometimes doing the kick laps first, or the squats last - mixing it up works the muscles slightly differently and stops your body getting to complacent and used to the routine.

The main thing is; move your body, don't spend too long being sedentary, and get out for some fresh air.
Staying indoors and sedentary is a recipe for ill health, and can cause or exacerbate anxiety and depression.
This means that when you don't feel like doing it; getting out or moving, it's even more important that you do.
By all means indulge in the obsession of the moment, reading, playing games, or whatever, but always make time for exercise.
Even a walk down the street, or some light gardening is enough to make some difference, as it get's your brain and body into a different mode.

I can't imagine being inside all the time. Maybe for a day or two but then I feel crabby and antisocial. As soon as the sun hits my skin I stretch out and remember what being alive is. But maybe some of us are solar-powered?

I never feel good when I stay inside the house, even if I exercise. I'd recommend two or three hours a day outside, maybe? You don't have to exercise the whole time...in fact, two to three hours of exercise is probably too much. But I think it's good to just be outside doing anything for that amount of time; the fresh air is what matters, no matter what activity you're doing.

I go out to work 40+ hours a week? Does that count as going out? I actually feel worse after going out anywhere than if I lock myself away from the world. I usually find isolation soothing. I haven't been doing as well lately now that my wife (who is also an isolationist, but for different reasons) has been gone for a long time.