Mumsnet users share with VELUX what think of the time they spend indoors and the "indoor generation"

[JustineBMumsnet]

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It’s no secret that spending time outside getting fresh air and daylight is beneficial for a variety of reasons. A new study by VELUX showed that people spend more time inside than they realise – often spending 90% of their time indoors, and they’d like to hear your thoughts on this.

Here’s what Grant Sneddon, Velux daylight expert has to say: “Whether we’re at home, in work or school or even commuting, we spend most of our time inside poorly lit and ventilated spaces. Why is this interesting? Well, if we’re spending most of our time indoors then it means we’re not getting enough fresh air and daylight, which can affect our sleep, mood and productivity. But there are simple ways to get the health benefits of natural daylight and fresh air in the home such as opening your windows three to four times a day to allow fresh air in."

How much time do you think you spend indoors? What do you think of the claims that we’ve become an indoor generation? Do you have tips for ensuring your family gets the benefits of daylight and fresh air while you’re spending time indoors?

All who post sharing their thoughts or tips below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

The ludicrous mass hysteria that the media have successfully fed to parents leaves many children under virtual house arrest compared to previous generations. We see most able bodied children ferried sometimes a few hundred yards to and from school in what resembles an armoured personnel carrier, in an area devoid of any threat.

Their parents generation ( or maybe now grandparents) walked and cycled; they were and are the healthier for it. Socially and physically. We experienced the seasons, nature, difference, adventure.
Ironically, the greatest threat to the precious snowflakes is in the home, not stranger danger.

As for fresh air, I'd say the psychological benefit of the sunlight - along with the vitamin D production - would be the big win from extra windows.

I work outdoors so I'm quite lucky (in the Summer!) i like to be outside as much as I can, walking the dogs, chilling in the garden or playing with the kids.

Really depends on the weather. This summer probably out more than the average summer, but that has also meant spending more money visiting outdoor attractions, restaurants, beer gardens etc. We rarely spend a Saturday in, but Sundays are reserved for food shopping and relaxing in front of the TV.

More than we would like especially in the week

School days we spend very little time outdoors. Weekends and holidays vary between all day and only a few minutes depending what we are doing.

We have had quite a lot of outdoor time as we are fortunate in living in a village with lots of free childrens activities but also 1 hour from the coast and 40 minutes from London so lots of time is spent exploring.

I'm a runner and we have a dog that needs walking. Plus combining the two doesn't work as our tiny dog can't keep going. So that's me out twice a day at a minimum. I'm in the rest of the time though (DS & DD always seem to be indoors, particularly DS)

We try to get out as much as possible and windows are currently always open due to hot flat! However, even when we lived in an old draughty place we'd leave windows open an hour as soon as we got in from work, to air the place out fully.

with two dogs we spend quite a lot of spare time outdoors, but its quite hard getting my teenage daughter out in the fresh air, so I have to get her out in other ways, even if its just walking round shops, else she would stay in her room on the phone all day.

I would say the OH is outside more than in with his job, our son is a 50/50 inside for school but then out when not at school (he loves to cycle) and then I am the worse as I spend the most time indoors, however I do always have the back patio doors open for our dog to come in and out like a yoyo so I suppose I still get a lot of fresh air (and I do walk the dog as well).

I do believe in the power of being outdoors being good for your health - and the sunshine as we need it for our vitamin D intake. I think this generation do spend more time indoors than out and that is the cause for the NHS to recommend taking on Vitamin D these days - we never needed it in the 70's as all kids were out at every possible moment! (there was nothing to do indoors back then)!

When we have dry warm weather I am out all day if not at work so two days a week. Unfortunately most of the year I am trapped in an office and pretty much indoors all day if the weather is bad.

I commute to work so spend a lot of time on trains and tubes then in a hot office and lecture theatre in term time. I do make a point of getting out for a walk at least once a day . In the holidays I get the kids out as much as possible I love nature and I love to garden

I like to be outdoors but having two little boys and no family or friends to help with makes you very busy. I spend most of the time at home cleaning the house , making food and looking after my kids . My oldest buy (3 years old ) is got a speech delay so every time we decide to go somewhere ( me and my husband) my boy doesn't keep still , he wants to run everywhere and can't say what he wants and if he don't get what he wants he start crying and screaming so that's the main reason why we don't go outside together. Hopefully when my son grow up and speak properly we can go for holidays and get more freedom.

We try to get outdoors as much as possible. In term-time we walk to school or to the shops, unless the weather is bad. The kids enjoy playing in the garden as much as possible. I feel some days I am stuck in the house though, as there is always so much housework to do!

My husband works outdoors as a boat instructor for the military, so he doesn't like being outdoors in the evenings when he comes home. I'm only outdoors a few days a week,and work the rest of my life in an office so I live to spend all my free time outside.

Our house is thrown open to the elements all the time, with the bedroom window only closed during the worst winter storms!

I'm looking to get the patio doors replaced with bifolds, and want a Velux installed in my hall way for light and air.

We have a dog, so we're out every day with her, but it's not nearly enough I know.

I think I do spend a lot of time indoors. I live in a city behind the junction of 2 A roads so obviously there is a lot of pollution and it’s not like I can just step out in to the fresh air. Having said that I don’t have a car most of the week so all school runs and indeed getting anywhere is done on foot.

The school holidays and the fabulous weather we've had have made it so much easier for us to enjoy the outdoors. We eat al fresco whenever we can, and spend as much time as we can in the garden. At weekends we have one day where we enjoy the outdoors - a walk through the woods or (as we're NT members) a visit to a local property. Then we always walk to the shops in town, the library or the local swimming pool (I'm too tight to pay for parking!) so that all adds to our daily exercise and also kills some extra time!

I hate being indoors and it seems I've ready passed this on to my children. They are only 5 and 2 but are always asking "where are we going today?" And suggest places they want to go. I don't drive so anywhere we go is through walking or public transport but I like walking anyway so we walk miles every day especially in the school holidays. A nice walk along the beach and then to the park. When at home my kids play out. I know people say kids never play out but we are luckily not to live near the busy road and my kids will play out for hours and hours and not come in until bedtime so I will potter about getting jobs done (don't worry I still supervise!!) in the house while they play with their friends and then I'll join them outside. It's awful when it's bad weather because none of us like being indoors!

I try to balance my time indoors to outdoors. We have been out all weekend doing fun days out/activities and try to do plenty through holidays. However when i am back at work, i prefer to stay indoors once i get home.

Far too much time tbh, but we do have dogs so we get outside as much as possible with them. The weather is always the worst thing. Obviously this summer has been amazing so we've got out lots usually the rain keeps us indoors.

If it'd dry then the backdoor is open and me and the kids are in and out all day long. At the weekends we rarely stay in at home. We have a annual pass for the local zoo, theme park and national trust. It means there is always somewhere for us to enjoy as a family outside whatever the weather.

I work from home so I spend most of my time stuck indoors during the week. We go for lots of walks and adventures outside at weekends to try and make up for it!

Certainly more in the winter than summer! We try to get out as much as possible when the weather is good.

Working from home, the hours are longer and so stuck at desk for longer - at least I can take a break when I like and wander down the garden to feed the fish..

We spend a lot of our time indoors as our garden really needs some work but when we go out, we love to be out in nature. I think it's important for children to get out a lot so my children are involved in sports clubs etc with loads of outdoor play.

I have to say, my home is my sanctuary though, especially being pregnant with number 3! I love improving and enhancing my home and love getting compliments when people visit!