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

Far too much time inside sadly. Due to poor health, if it wasn't for the children, who I love to play with outdoors with, I'd probably stay indoors much of the time. That's why I am so much better in the summer months, I guess!

I am guilty of spending too much time indoors ... Probably most of the day although in the holidays it's different we have been out for at least half the day or more

We try to spend as much time in our all weather garden

I think we probably spend about 85% of our time indoors. Unfortunately tech has taken hold of us a lot and i wont deny it be it the TV or the phones. Me and my partner work long hours and we get so worn out staying in is sometimes just the best option. I wont lie about it because i am sure were not the only ones. When the weather is bad then we tend to just have movie days and play indoors. I think we need to buy wellies and thicker coats and just learn to enjoy the outdoors a lot more. I know the children dont mind playing outside even if its pouring so maybe me and my partner need to live like were 5 and 3 again.

My time indoors is very weather dependent. If it's not raining I'm usually out and about dog walking, gardening and cycling. Hate the rain though and I'm usually indoors on rainy days catching up with household chores

We have spent most of the summer outdoors thanks to the amazing weather we have had. We've had days at the park, lots of walking after searching for walks in our area and days out to national parks etc. We have been putting picnic blankets on the lawn to eat outside and have taken all the craft/ painting items outside. We even made a mini assault course in the garden out of furniture and garden toys/ games for the kids and turned the paddling pool into a hook a duck pool. We even go out on rainy days, kids love going for a walk and splashing in the puddles, as long as they are in wellies and dressed appropriately, rain doesn't have to spoil the fun.

I spend much more time indoors than is good for me. I usually only spend time outside when I’m going to/from work, going to the shops or gardening. Should do more especially in the autumn and winter

I limit time on games consoles/tablets & tv. This works really well for us and the children know the rules. I set up different activities indoors such as messy play in our tuff tray, arts and crafts and educational activities. I also make sure we have set our time for reading and homework. On warmer days my children love to play ball games in the garden. I’m hoping to purchase some swings and a slide for them soon x

I spend way too much time indoors its really quite shameful. But we don't have a garden and we live far away from my friends and my girls school friends so she cant play out all day. I also suffer with depression so the thought of going outside can be too much sometimes. I absolutely hate it though and wish I could be one of them people who could get up and go outside and spend all day out.

We love spending time outdoors even if it’s sat under the gazebo in the rain the fresh air does us good and with the lovely summer we’ve had we have been outdoors a lot

We do love to be outdoors but with working full time and then getting home from work & needing to cook & clean, we rarely actually get to spend quality time outside. That's why we make a conscious effort to at least sit out in the garden and catch up with everyone's day.....if everyone is home of course!

More than we should. I think it's roughly 4 out of 7 days a week. We do take short trips on those days to the shops etc but not as much as we really should get!

this summer has been so lovely we have been outside for at least 6 hrs a day. when we are inside we have the patio door open to let in a breeze.

We've just moved from a flat to a house with a garden so planning to spend a lot of time outdoors when we can.

We live on the West Coast of Scotland so we get outdoors as soon as we can, for as long as we can. We go to the beach, walk, cycle.

But, for much of the year we are indoors which we love too. Views through rainy glass, fires, a book to read. Nothing wrong with sheltering in comfort.

How much time do you think you spend indoors?

I’ll admit that I’m an indoors girl. I don’t like the cold the wet etc. I’ll force myself to go out because I know it’s unhealthy to stay in too much and I do usually feel better after a short gentle walk but I’d rather watch Netflix!

Work mostly indoors, commute by car, so outside less than 1/2 hour weekdays and maybe 1-2 hours each weekend day.

On holiday will be outmuch more.

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

Yes my dcs play outdoors hardly at all.

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

We do open the windows every day to let fresh air in and thankfully the house is light and airy.

I do think a lot of families are indoors a lot, but my OH is from South Africa, so he doesn't like then having toys, or being indoors. So, basically, they are out in any weather. We put them out after breakfast, and we scoot, we cycle. We play in the garden. They get dirty. We climb trees (and fences).
We have a telly and use it- literally- about once a month. They never see it on except a very very occasional round recorded programme. We spend roughly 60% of our day outdoors- whatever the weather..
oh, we surf, swim in the sea, go skiing, get muddy in the river..

We spend a lot of time out of the home, but often that's still in indoor places like museums, galleries and leisure centres, since there's so many good ones available in London. We do make an effort to go to parks and city farms when we can, but if it's raining I'd rather go to an indoor venue - although we'll often be doing something active like climbing or swimming . In the winter it just gets dark and cold too quickly to want to spend much time outdoors.

We spend too much time indoors and after reading what other people do on here in the day I'm going to make more of an effort to enjoy the outside

I can go weeks without leaving the house. I don't even go into my garden because of a nasty neighbors

We try to spend as much time as possible outside whether in the garden or local parks no matter what the season is. We love eating outside.

I probably spend more time inside than I would like however we enjoy gardening, so a goid motivation is to tend to the kitchen garden.
We thankfully live near to our town centre and shops so if I need to just pick up a few bits or a parcel we'll walk in. That helps. Invariably we will stop by the river so Dd can watch the ducks. Some days we take seeds for them to.
Definitely gets a little harder in winter to do those things on wet windy days due to the steep hill in town but as long as you have the right clothing - wellies for puddle jumping - then you can still have a good time.

We’re a pale family who are terrible at being out in the heat but I still try to get out during the coolest part of the day in summer and the rest of the year I at least go for a /0 minutes walk just to get some fresh air.

I’m quite shocked by the idea that I might spend 90% of my time indoors. With young kids I feel like I am often outside (park, garden etc) but that said, we are all very fair and struggle to be in the sun for long periods in the summer, and as winter draws in it’s likely we will start doing library / soft play / swimming at weekends. Whilst I feel I’m out of the house quite a bit, this is often to go to the gym (inside) or work (inside - office). I do do the school run on foot as much as possible, and am hoping to recreate my youth by introducing a bit more walking for us as a family - I grew up very rurally and spent hours wandering

I’m not an outdoor person. For example, I’ll choose to sit indoors at the pub on a sunny day as I hate direct sun. However, I do think it is important to get outside at least once a day. In winter that can take a bit more effort but it makes you feel much better than being cooped up.