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

We spend more time indoors in winter. make most of summer sunshine playing in garden, woods, beach etc

Since having DS, we spend most of the day outside. We take several walks a day, always have the windows open, and play in the garden as much as we can.

I'm quite sad it's all going to change next month. We'll both be stuck inside for the majority of the day. Me in my office, and DS will be inside at nursery the majority of the time.

We have rain sensitive Velux windows which are brilliant. They are open pretty much all the time and I can happily leave them if we go out as I know they will close if it rains so we never come home to soaked carpets.
We try to get out whenever possible - even if it is miserable I bundle the kids up and head out which usually makes us all feel so much better.

I walk the kids to school twice a day, walk in to town once everyday, I peg out washing once or twice a day and my toddler will soend hours in the garden if the weathers fine. I do think my eldest two spend too much time indoors compared to what I spent outdoors as a child/ teenager. I’d be out all day only returning home for food!

With 2 young children i try to get out at least twice a day as it helps them sleep much better. It’s been harder in the heatwave as keeping the baby cool is an issue. We often have the patio doors open to benefit from the fresh air in the house.
I don’t think we’re an indoor generation children will always enjoy playing outside.

I think our family has a good balance of indoor v outdoor time as we love nothing better than being out in the fresh air, for the past two weekends we've been at festivals so have been outside the entire weekend, even in the winter we love a windy walk along the beach

Our garden is like another room to our home and we have patio doors open as much as possible, but in the winter it's difficult even though we have a light bright house with lots of windows and semi rural outlook. I grew up in Germany and loved their habit of opening bedroom windows every day and airing the bed quilts out the windows!

Working from home my partner and i are at home a lot but go out for a walk everyday and with the kids when the weather is good at the weekend

I'd agree that I spend about 90% of my time indoors, I prefer craft, tv and games to outdoor pursuits. I am hoping that my 2 dd's will force me out more in the future.

On my days off too much as I tend to be getting all the housework done but as I work and train hard then I am rarely at home. I am in work for long hours though (11 hrs per day)

We didn't really have to encourage ours as we are avid book readers and there have always been books strewn around the house. Both children used to sit on the potty with a book/magazine and both were given books instead of games and chocolate at Easter

far too much, its just easier, we play games, bake, watch flms together etc . I Know we should be out going for a walk etc but its too complicated

Too much time! Working a full time job means most of the day I am indoors, then when we get home we are indoors getting ready for dinner. We try to get out and about on the weekend but I definitely wish we spent more time outdoors.

I spend most of my time indoors. I live close to a polluted city centre so don't feel being outside is particularly desirable or healthy. I like sitting in my little back garden when it's warm and taking my kids to the park. I walk lots- not particularly by choice, but because we don't have a car.
I don't like hot sun shining in the house- it fades my dark velvet sofa and you can see all the grime on the windows!
I do the continental thing of keeping the house cool in summer- close all the windows and the blinds and curtains first thing in the morning. Keep the heat out and the house stays cool.

We're indoor more than I'd like, but have a dog so out at least once a day at weekends and evenings. I also chuck the dc into garden as much as I can! They do enjoy tv more than I'd like but so do I, so we make a conscious effort to get out when we can.

Our family all love being out door and spend as much time outside as we can, unfortunately there are so many things that need to be done indoors like housework, homework, cooking and computer work, so the answer is not as much as we would like

When I'm at work a lot of my time is spent indoors but I try to get out as much as I can in the evenings/weekends. I run at least three times a week and get out and about with my kids - walks in the woods, going to the park, picnics etc

We try and be outdoors as much as possible and if we have been indoors all day we will go for a walk in the afternoon. We almost always sleep with our windows open so we breath fresh air while we sleep.

I really spend too much time indoors when I should be out more

We do go for plenty of walks as a family and all enjoy it, we're lucky to have some lovely country side around us. However there are also many days where I don't even want to get dressed and will happily stay indoors I do open the windows a lot though, especially in the spring/summer.

Quite a lot actually, most of the day at work then cooking, bath time etc at home - weekends we are out a lot weather permitting but. Think it will help once my daughter is older as going to bed later will mean time for a walk etc before tea

During the week I'm usually indoors unless I'm off to meet someone for coffee or running errands!

We are indoors for more time than we like but have the windows open all through the day and night, even in the winter unless it is exceptionally cold.

I like to think we spend quite a bit of time outdoors but it probably isn't as much as I think it is. It is hard especially when the weather is miserable and the house is so cosy. Luckily we have a dog who insists on getting her walks no matter how bad the weather is so at least I get some fresh air and exercise even on rainy days.

I have an office job, I've been working overtime, so I spend a lot of time indoors in a stuffy office. By the time I get back, pick my Daughter up it's gone past 6pm. We get in eat tea, and apart from the walk from the car I don't get any fresh air. We do go to National Trust walks on the weekend which are lovely. I can't open the windows in my bedroom (first floor) as they are almost floor level and DD could potentially fall out, if she were to wander in.