Today’s guest post comes from Jenna King with LawnStarter. Enjoy!
Relationships and physical activity are crucial parts of our health and wellbeing. Put the two together, and you’ve got an effective way to strengthen connections with others. Here are some activities that can improve your quality of life and foster stronger relationships.
Virginia’s stay-at-home order doesn’t mean you have to stay sedentary. Thanks to technology, there are many ways to do some of these activities virtually.
Exercise
Exercise can help build stronger relationships in several ways. Exercise helps us feel better about ourselves, mentally, and physically. Setting and achieving fitness goals as a couple or a family can strengthen your bond. Exercise also releases endorphins, the hormones that help us feel good and improve our mood.
Help the Environment
Taking environmental action together will lift your spirits and give you the satisfaction of knowing you’re doing your part to protect the planet. Take part in a neighborhood cleanup with your family. Just grab a trash bag the next time you go out for a walk. Make a contest of it by seeing who can fill up their trash bag first. Make sure to wear gloves and a mask if possible. Volunteer together for an environmental cause in your community. If that’s too much, commit as a family to reducing your carbon footprint at home.
Commit to a zero-waste plan at home. It’s more important than ever to conserve precious resources right now. Instead of using paper towels, grab some rags to clean. Have leftover kitchen scraps? Bypass the garbage can and build your own backyard compost bin. Work together as a family to turn your leftover food scraps into organic fertilizer.
Garden
Gardening has a lot of mood-boosting benefits. You get outside, you get to dig in the dirt, and you nurture plants from seed (or seedling) to maturity. If you grow edible crops, you get the extra bonus of providing you and your family with healthy food. Gardening can be great fun for your little ones. Be sure to supervise them and assign age-appropriate tasks.
Be eco-friendly gardeners by using sustainable gardening practices. Grow native plants and avoid chemical weed killers and fertilizers. Now’s the time to use that compost as fertilizer.
Volunteer
Helping others is a sure-fire way to feel good. It can feel even better when you volunteer with family or friends. Many soup kitchens and food pantries are looking for help right now. Choose a cause that appeals to your group and find ways to get involved. This can help strengthen your connection with each other. You can also make lasting connections with others who share your convictions.
Backyard Camping
How about a family campout in the safety of your yard? It’s a great way to teach children how to pitch a tent and cook over a campfire. They’ll also learn to appreciate nature and falling asleep to the sounds of birds and crickets chirping, instead of the TV and computer.
Learn New Skills
Learning something new can seem less intimidating if you do it with someone you know. Broaden your horizons by choosing a new activity you’ve always wanted to try. Learn a new language, take an art class, online, or try tai chi in the backyard together. Or try a different approach with a “talent show.” Have each family member present or perform their favorite interest or skill. This is an entertaining and enriching family activity if you’re home-bound. You’ll learn new ideas while discovering more about those you love.
Shared experiences are powerful relationship builders. Pick a few of the activities on this list to start strengthening your relationships. They’ll give you reasons to get out and about, and they can help create better connections with those around you.
Jenna King is a writer, avid hiker, and survivalist. She spends most of her time backpacking and using organic elements within nature.
