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

[JustineBMumsnet]

NOW CLOSED

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 are a very indoorsy family...unless it’s hot and sunny and the kids want to be in the pool they would rather be inside. We all have our hobbies and would rather spend time doing those then having enforced walks...although some of us enjoy a walk or a cycle. We always have windows open though and don’t have curtains to allow lots of fresh air and light into rooms!

Too much of my time is spent indoors

I spend much more time indoors than I did as a child. When we were children, if it wasn't peeing it down in the summer months, you were out in the garden and only allowed in for lunch and tea, bath and bed.

It's often tricky to leave the house as there are always some chores to do. We do however make a point of leaving the house every day, even if it's just to go to the park or a playground. We also spend quite a lot of time in the garden when the weather is nice.

I spend more time indoors now I work from home. We're inside a lot now as the garden is off limits due to building work and its driving us crazy which indicates I think we do spend a fair amount of time outside. In our renovations we have majored on maximising light and are installing a velux in the roof to shine more light into the landings and hall and put roof lights into the extension.

I think there is definitely potential for us to be a more indoors generation however I remember watching a fair amount of TV 35 years ago!! Having a dog helps as he gets walked twice a day and an essential criteria for house buying is easy access to the great outdoors.

I love my home, ive made it into a cozy relaxing and welcoming place year round but i also have a large garden which i regularly spend time in year round too. In the summer i love eating outside and working in the garden. Even when its freezing ouside i love having a window just a little open at night, i swear it makes me sleep better! I actually enjoy being indoors and watching/listening to bad weather outside, makes me feel even more cosy!

More than I should, but then force myself to go out for walks in the nearby mountains

As soon as I finish work I take the grandchildren out to the park or for long walks, we are lucky to have beautiful countryside all around us so the options are endless

As a teacher, it varies massively depending on whether it is term time or the holidays. In term time it is just an hour or two in the mornings, the evening from about 6pm and one of the two weekend days. In the holidays it's all or nothing! Either a week or day out or days in pyjamas crashing out and relaxing.

I work from home and spend the majority of time indoors. I have recently installed French doors in kitchen and off lounge to the garden to bring in more outdoor light and it allows me open the doors to allow the the fresh air in. I installed canopy porches above the doors to make it so that I can enjoy the fresh air and open the doors in all weather.

Depends on the season, mainly outdoors in spring/summer. Enjoy pottering in garden or out with our dog

We spend far too much time indoors during the week/school time. At weekends we like to get outdoors, but even then we're only outside all day if the weather is good. In the summer we will be mostly outdoors from 8-7, and during school time we will spend at least an hour at the park if the weather is dry, but still we are mostly indoors.

I try and be outside as much as possible but it’s probably not a very high percentage.
Work 9-5 inside and then there’s always chores to do at home. But with the sun we have been spending more time outside!

A good 4-5 hours a day at the moment, it is summer of course.

love indoors by 'windows with a view'
can organise the temperature ( hot or cold ) to suit
love a blue sky even in winter
love the magic of colours and the peace it provides
BUT ………………….
can be energetic outside ………… better for health and well being

We spend as little as possible time inside, even though it rains very frequently in these parts!

A long commute and an increasing paranoia around job security meaning more time at work and a shitty work life balance leads to too much time indoors.

One saving grace is children get to play out at school.

My biggest regret is not learning to ride a bike. I have a fantasy of us all jumping on our bikes to do errands, pop to shops ect.

I keep our home bright and ventilated but it's a poor cousin to outdoor activity. Maybe when dc are bigger (8 and 5 now) we can walk a bit more.

We definitely spend most of our time indoors, but I do try to make sure that there is some time spent outdoors every day no matter what the weather is

None of us are fans of the heat so this weather has seen time spent outside decrease, whereas I assume a lot of families will increase their time outdoors because of the weather. We still get out though, we just go early in the morning or tea time onwards, when it's a bit cooler.

Trying to make a poin5 of going out for a walk each day - in th3 evening after dinner if haven’t before. Obviously or if we had a dog we’d have to go out a couple of times a day - I think that’s actually a real benefit of dog ownership!

At work and in the week we are inside a lot but if it’s nice we will try and go for a walk to nature reserve or beach in the evening and are very lucky to live in such a lovely place. Weekends we try and get kids outdoors playing in the woods and stream or at the beach. We have a conservatory so will sit in there with doors open if it’s nice. Also he roof lights so house is very light as well.

It is easier when it's hot and dry to be outdoors, but we do try to be outside for at least an hour a day even in the driving rain, just because my kids are annoying otherwise...

Fresh air has been drummed into me as a child as important, so I always have a window open somewhere.

This last week it feels like we’ve barely left the house, although I think we spend a good amount of time outdoors generally. We need better rain clothes!
I do try to open the windows in the morning.

I work from home so it can drive me nuts if I don't get out for a while, much easier with the nice weather we have been enjoying though.

We are outdoors as much as possible in the Summer and as little as possible in Winter!

DD's school are hot on Forest school, daily mile runs and outdoor learning whatever the weather and consequently she's much less bothered by the cold and wet than I am. So currently her generation are more outdoorsy than mine!

We like getting outdoors in the garden and walking the dog. We spend at least an hour a day outside and much more in warm weather.