May 25, 2022
I crossed the 200 hours outside for 2022 last week. I am beginning to notice how much we can do outside, sometimes just sitting outside and reading is even a great refresher from life. We will be camping this weekend as we do every memorial day weekend to kick off summer, so I’m finding it easier to get my hours in now that we have been practicing getting hours outside, and the nicer weather certainly helps.
Thank you!
Amazon Book Review from Jenya Lindstrom:
Inspiring for adventurous parents! Beyond Normal is a
motivating read that inspires me to incorporate adventures into
parenting. It’s so easy to join the masses pressuring us to
“settle down” once our kids arrive. Thank you Heidi for
providing a roadmap for how to create adventures WITH kids.
Heidi also shares many personal experiences that are so relatable
as a mom. I’ve ordered extra copies to share with mom friends
and my sisters! Great family inspirational reading and/or gift for
new parents.
I encourage you to be
like Jenya; read the
book, share the book, leave an amazon written review
Website for this episode:
https://ordinarysherpa.com/076
Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:
https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/
Subscribe to the email
List: https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/
Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook
Group to interact with
other listeners. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa
These practices all contribute to the following benefits
Grounding practices in
Adventure
Neuroscience- Mindfulness (What does that mean)
value in Noticing.
Fresh Air
No screens one hour before bed (no screens after 8 is my intention)
Sensory
experiences
Auditory Walk - listen to natural sounds around
you.
Tactical: Barefoot in the grass, or even on the concrete. Grounding feeling of connection
Natural light exposure before noon
Sense of Smell is connected to the most vivid memories. Fresh blooms of lilacs or the lilies of the valley, smell after it rains.
A slightly different
perspective
There is significant research that encourages
“risky movements” in particular getting outside of the upright
position. With kids this helps develop their inner ear,
balance and coordination that leads to many other
development. Quote from my book (Balanced & Barefoot) While
it’s easy to consider this as a critical aspect for children I also
encourage adults to get out of the upright position. I know
when practicing yoga there is a preference for inverted
positions.
Another form of grounding is to get all the way to the floor. Play superman with the kids, or just yesterday I pulled out the puzzle board and picked up a puzzle we hadn’t touched in weeks. When we all can get to the same level there is a grounding feeling in addition to deeper connection.
I want to talk a bit more about connection. In my w2 job, which I don’t know that I have talked much about, I oversee a foundation’s giving strategy and in the past 18 months we have been studying the research related to connection. I will link a research study in the show notes and as a society we have been reducing the number of deep connections we share with others since the 1980s. In 1986 we averaged 4 deep connections with other people, now the average is less than 1. Yet we have more tools to connect than ever. The piece of this research that was most defining for me was that we only need 1 solid connection to exponentially increase the benefits listed above. We approach health from an exercise and nutrition perspective, but human connection offers much greater results. It has been interesting to me is that at work with our focus on mental health we have been focus on access to treatment and quality care and we knew there was more behind the curve.
I go into detail that I knew that adventure had healing properties back in my twenties which was why I resisted the settling down narrative. The research continues to emerge about how beneficial time in nature, practicing discomfort, and grounding practices can offer a new path- or perhaps return us to a native pathway that has been hushed.
To Register for the Everyday Adventure Challenge: If you would like a little help, and outside nudge to practice simple adventures such as this the Everyday Adventure Challenge is open and will run June 5-August 5th. You can register by heading to ordinarysherpa.com/challenge
Key Takeaways:
Resources mentioned in this
episode
1000 Outdoor Trackers: https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/trackers
Research on Natural Light:
Balanced and Barefoot Book: Order a book on Amazon
Research on the Human Connection: http://ccare.stanford.edu/uncategorized/connectedness-health-the-science-of-social-connection-infographic/