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 very little time indoors. First thing in the morning all windows opened to circulate fresh air. Kids all participate in outdoor sports and we have a dog that needs two walks a day.
We all love being outdoors and being indoors is a chore for us.

During the summer holidays we take the kids out for the whole day. We have planned activites to varies places outdoors to different parks where there are safe play area for kids. We have Sunday as a day in the garden where we have a padderling pool and BBQ with friends & family.

I spend about 99% of my time indoors. I can't open my office window, but do have windows open at home (but not when the sun is on them!)
When do people have the time?

I make a concerted effort to plan family trips, picnics and barbecues outdoors as my DC will binge watch TV all day if left to their own devices! Having dogs means they don't tend to complain but go happily walking when prompted.

I used to spend a ridiculous amount of time indoors, mainly gaming and watching TV. Since having DS(2), most days are now spent outdoors as he hates to be inside. The change has been great for me. I do think people are spending more time indoors now than previously. Disposable income is not so much of a thing nowadays, so people tend to stay home which doesn't cost much money.

If we're forced to stay indoors for any reason I at least open my patio doors so we get some fresh air (even in the winter!).

We spend a bit too much time indoors, both DC are happy in front of screens so it involves a concerted effort to get them out sometimes. We are out for at least a little while each day, but I need to make more effort.

We do have the doors and windows open whenever it's nice out, and are about 2 weeks away from having velux windows fitted in our new pitched roof - can't wait to finally have a bright kitchen.

Well, the beautiful sunshine appears to have left Scotland for the summer... so we are currently indoors a lot more than we were, say last month.

Last year I really struggled with it as we had no good weather throughout the summer. I find my mental health isn’t as great if I am not getting out and about.

I spend a lot of time indoors. At home or in my office. Walking to and from work is the main time I spend outside. And shopping. Dont have a car, so that does make an imapct. Often have windows open though!

I’m quite conscious that I spend a lot of time inside. It’s definitely the downside of an office job! I do compressed hours and work through lunch which exacerbates this, especially in the winter.
I try and get out a lot at the weekends, but that’s quite weather dependent

I spend more time indoors but the DC are generally outside playing whenever they can. I always have windows and blinds open so plenty fresh air and daylight.

I have an allotment, love gardening,don’t drive ( so walk a lot )and work part time, mainly outdoors,however I would still say I spend significantly more time indoors. Yet I know I enjoy being outdoors and usually feel better for it, especially in the colder months when I would rather just hibernate.

My kids ensure that I get plenty of time outdoors;)

How much time do you think you spend indoors?

Hour of commuting (cycling) each day + typically some kind of lunchtime walk + bits & pieces popping outside for something (like weeding garden). Weekends not so different. So typical day is 22-22.5 hrs/day indoors.

What do you think of the claims that we’ve become an indoor generation?

Obviously true. My mother railed about when TV was introduced in her area & friends stop coming out to play (1952).

Do you have tips for ensuring your family gets the benefits of daylight and fresh air while you’re spending time indoors?

Nope, ha! DH gets out loads (sport he does). I have to go out with the kids, though, they don't go out much on own initiative. Bribing with nice snacks gets them on long country walks or to the beach.

--Laptop is charging or I could be writing this from the garden right now.

This summer lots of time outside - probably a decent amount of time other years as with two young children I try the get out of the office as much as possible as the noise factor gets too much inside! Pre-children I would agree a lot of time was spent inside. I didn't used to have my own garden though so inside was my sanctuary.

I like being outdoors, but dh and the dcs much prefer being indoors. During this lovely weather there has been much complaining and wistful thoughts about darker evenings and putting the gas fire on.

I always have all the windows open, but I have to fight the teens dcs who like to be hermetically sealed in their lairs.

we're outside most days just walking to school etc but we are lucky enough to have a lovely view from our house and i've noticed that sometimes when the weather is nice i stay in and look at outside as opposed to being outside and walking in it - i am sure this is to do with having something lovely to look at.
however we have just come back from camping so we all have the outside bug - all meals outside and maybe hot chocolate tonight too!

Just DH and me at home now and due to my poor health at the moment and him working so hard, when we get to the weekends, we're both to exhausted to do much, so we spend a lot of time indoors. Not helped with the fact that our garden is dreadful and needs a full make over.

We do fling Windows and doors open as soon as possible everyday, regardless of the weather. This leads to the nightly ritual of, 'did you lock the back door?' Or 'was the bedroom window open today?' And on and on until we've checked all over the house again!

Loads! I don't like being outdoors at all - I'm either too hot or too cold or the sun is in my eyes or the wind is blowing my hair. I much prefer being indoors watching a movie or reading. Happy for the kids to play outside in the garden but I don't want to join them, I can see them from the kitchen

I don’t think I spend too much time indoors, but I would like to be outside more.

At the moment though I have a 2yo and 5 yo and if they’re outside they generally run around like lunatics regardless of the heat. So it’s easier to stay in than get heatstroke!

I do have lots of windows though. Can’t rwally think of another way to get the benefit of fresh air indoors.

Far too much time during the autumn/winter months. I hate being cold or wet.
But you can't get me inside the moment the temp hits 15degrees!

Having outdoor time is very important to us. My daughter and I walk everyday now and have even taken our car off the road to make us walk even more. Incredibly it's been too hot to go out in the day this summer so we tend to get out early or go for evening strolls in a nearby woods.

Even when in the house we like open all the doors and windows to feel the fresh air. 💚

When I was a kid I would spend lots of time outdoors - my parents could see the local park from my bedroom window and could keep an eye on me.

These days parents are less willing to leave kids under 12 unattended despite the fact that statistically they are no more likely to come to any harm than there were 30 years ago and as a result children today spend less time outside.

I always walked the DC to and from school when they were at Primary school. The supermarket is also within walking distance (assuming it is a small shop!). We live a few minutes walk from a Country Park so try to have a walk in there every day if we are not off to the beach or wherever. We also make good use of the garden in good weather. We've always all loved being outdoors - but other things get in the way so it's important to actually plan for being outdoors each day. Also I much prefer letting the sunlight into the house rather than pulling blinds and curtains to keep the sunlight from fading the carpet etc. as some of my friends do.

Living somewhere where we can walk everywhere (school, shops, station etc) means I spend a lot more time outside than I used to. We're a bit of a family of bookworms though, and you're more likely to find us curled up in a corner of the sofa than playing in the garden.