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

I admit I love being at home. Total home bird I am.

We have a small child so staying indoors is critical during this hot spell. We keep our patio doors wide open though with fans going and keep the house as airy as possible. We live near London and for some families it must be very hard to get outdoors time as its built up, crowded and polluted, which isn’t pleasant in extreme heat. We take time to visit local woodland, even when the weather is cold!!! It’s very tempting to use technology & TV to help with a difficult kid though!

Spend most of my time inside- maternity leave. Try to go out once a day even if just round the block, saves your sanity and good for health.

We spent more time outside when the children were younger. Now, and especially with the heat, we are always busy inside and only make the most of the outside when away on holiday and during the mild autumn and spring weather when walks are easier and outside jobs can be done with greater ease.

I spend far too much time indoors, especially in winter when I can be out the house by 7:00 and not back til 7:30, so not time at home when it’s light to go for a walk.

In the summer I will spend lots more time outside on the patio or in the hammock as I can sit out before or after work. In winter I expect I spend at Least 90% of my time in doors, in summer probably 75-80% (an absolute minimum of 65% of my time is spent commuting, working, sleeping or getting ready for work, so I doubt it’s much less than 80%

About 22 hours a day, although tomorrow will be different, as we'll be spending most of the day on a hill.

We split time indoors and outside because none of us cope well with the heat. We walk a lot with the dog which is good for everyone!

I love being outside and the hot weather recently has made it much easier. Luckily we've got a big garden which helps coax the dc out. I struggle when its cold and wet as i dont enjoy it that much. Endless hours in windy cold playgrounds are hard work!

Especially in winter; far to much time indoors. I enjoy gardening, but not so much fom November to March! That’s 5 months of the year. And then there’s being cooped up at work/ school. I would love a more outdoor lifestyle.

Last time I went outside was July 10th. I cannot handle the heat so do not go outside much, if I can help it. Winter is much better, I love the cold.

We try to go out on weekends when weather's nice.
When stay indoor, we usually alternate activities every half hour.

I agree we have become an indoor generation. At home during the warmer months we leave the sliding doors to the garden open most of the time ( which suits the cat as she can come and go as she pleases). We do leave windows open, and try and air my bedroom every day even in the winter for a short while.

It was easy to get out in the open when the kids were smaller. Now they're teens we feel it's a triumph if we even get them to leave the house!

Like Remus, I teach in hot classrooms and have, on one campus, a stuffy, windowless staff room. Very difficult during the week to get out and about in the fresh air.

We walk and bike a lot but we are very much fair weather cyclists.

This weather though has been amazing, our front door has been open during the day and knowing what the weather is going to bring encourages everyone out.

Have to say, I spend a lot of time indoors. Partly due to being in a flat, but also because I do like my flat. I've got lovely views and can happily sit in my bedroom reading a book while listening to the birds singing in the trees outside

I believe this statement that more people are spending time indoors, as a family of four living in a flat we have no access to a garden and being a stay at home mum I'm often between odd jobs In the house and raising the children, ferrying them between nursery and school so we only get a minimal amount of outdoor time except on the weekends. Where I will make sure the children go to the park or for a walk or picnic and I throughly enjoy it. Not only is it peaceful for me to sit outside and have fresh air , im a firm believer in kids running around in it to tire themselves out . When we are indoors I have the windows open constantly to allow fresh air in. I think with more high rise flats and new builds being built this way more people will be indoors than what there currently is at the moment.

I mostly walk to work - love my breath of air before being locked in an office!

We walk most places and I will always chose to walk/cycle over using the car myself. Just to be out in fresh air. We stop in the park after school so we don't just come home and sit inside. It's important to me as I enjoy being outside but do appreciate the option that we have to be inside!

I spend far too much time indoors. I realised the other day that other than the school run on the way to work, that's often the only time I'm outside apart from weekends. So I've decided to try and go for a short walk during my lunch breaks. I feel so much better when I get some fresh air, even if just for a short time. At home, I have as many windows open as possible. Having fresh air and daylight coming into my home makes a huge difference to my mood.

I give the place a good airing each morning and like having all the windows open. We are lucky enough to have a large garden so we spend lots of time outside

I probably spend too much time time in doors. More than I would like to be honest. Summer holidays has been a great excuse to get out but once the kids are back at school I don't actually have that much time to get outdoors. Rather than drive to school we chose to walk. Once I've dropped them off, home for a bit of house work then by then I have to collect the middle boy from nursery. Home then back for the eldest from school. Weekends we tend to spend a lot more time outside.

We spend as much time as possible outdoors! In all weathers. Can't get enough fresh air. Have the windows open as much as possible too.

We end up spending way too much time inside. The hot weather means that taking 3 under 5s out is a massive faff, in terms of keeping them cool / protected from too much sun / hydrated.
Top tips - going out as early / late as possible, when it's quieter and cooler, and there's more chance of seeing wildlife.

Oops, misread the instructions... we keep windows open as much as possible to keep the air fresh and healthy. Opening our Velux in the bathroom helps cool the house down.

when the suns out we will stay out and have the paddling pool etc out. in other weathers we try to visit parks and do nature walks although it is getting difficult to get the older ones to move away fro ipads

We spend more time indoors than I would like - especially when you take into account work and school time. However when I am at home, I always have the windows open (as long as it isn't freezing outside!). We chose our house partly because of the big windows and airy feel that it had.

Having a dog does help to get us outside though, he loves a long walk as long as it isn't too hot.