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

I make sure we get outside at least once a day. I go stir crazy otherwise! I'll aim for us to be out of the house between 10am - 3pm as a bare minimum.

I spend a lot of time indoors as I live on a very noisy and polluted street. It was so badly designed, and it really impacts on quality of life in the flats in the area - we have nice balconies that can't be used. And in this sort of weather, it is a nightmare!

If indoors I try to have windows open (unless it's freezing outside but even then it's so hot in our bedroom as the hot water tank is in a cupboard in it I'm grateful for the cool breeze even then!)
The recent stretch of food weather has made being out easier and encouraged walking and being out with the buggy rather than driving between places.

I don't spend hardly any time outdoors.
I adore being at home and am very happy there.
I work part time and on my days off during the summer holidays, I just potter around, put on a load of washing.... ds's playing x box.

I have to consciously make an effort to say to ds's, right tomorrow we are going for a walk to x place, which they love.

I guess many might find this odd. Many of my friends are outdoors people, forever out, generally, in fields etc. They probably don't really know how much I am at home.

As I am 'blessed' with a very alert baby, we get out of the house every single day, even if it just means to the local supermarket for some stimulation. I'm aware that is still indoors but in this recent heat, air conditioning trumps natural light!

Dog walking gets me out.
Gardening too.
And shopping.

Otherwise I'm content to be a home bird, except when on holiday - spend loads of time outside then.

I dont spend lots of time outdoors. My children are older, so out with their friends alot.
I go out to hang washing, shopping etc but dont really sit out in the garden as its too hot at the moment.
As a family, we tend to eat out so sit in a few pub gardens for a while.
I would like to get out more to places like the park and beach but trying to co ordinate all our days off is hard sometimes as have lots of housework etc to catch up on.

I’m outside all summer as we are camping while building work goes on in the house- one aspect of which is a huge patio door going in so we can have more of an outside feel. We do try and get out for walks on the beach all year round but it’s work that gets in the way- I’m inside all day on work days. In the spring and summer I try and have a cup of tea outside after work, getting chickens has helped as it’s a reason to be out for a while to give them a run around.

I spend far too much time indoors. At the moment it's hot enough for the garden but otherwise only dog walking and shopping get me out. Well, dog related things, there's also training etc.

I'm indoors a lot with work so we make a real effort to be out a lot, we also have a big dog so that gets us out even if not feeling it. I think you can't look at it daily, as weekends people are out loads and in the summer evenings, whereas in the wet no one wants to be out!

We would spend more time outdoors if our garden wasn't currently a mess, it's not appealing to go out there so we usually stay in or have to make the effort to go to the park etc. An appealing view from the window works wonders. That being said we do love a drive to a nature reserve, forrest, beach etc on the weekend, usually at the sacrifice of the household chores! I think it's important for your health, especially in the winter when it's cold and you tend to spend more time stuck indoors.

Being a SAHP means I spend most of my time indoors. I do try to take my kid out when in evenings apart from the usual pick and drop from nursery and daily shopping. However, during the recent heat wave it's been particularly hard to go out. We have a south facing flat on the top of our building which means we get most of the sunshine. It's a blessing and a curse (especially when its too hot).We keeps the windows open and draw the curtains after 2pm to keep the house cool and fresh. We do tend to spend most of our weekends outside to make most of the summer.

In summer we go out most weekends, somewhere with the dogs for a nice walk - rivers, reservoirs, beaches. Or we go camping a few times a year for a long weekend.
We spend most of our time indoors in winter, but always make sure to walk the dogs every day even in bad weather.

I do think we have become more of an indoor generation, and obviously the cause of this is the internet and social media. Our kids are socializing digitally rather than face to face, and are gaming etc rather than out on bikes and just generally hanging round parks and streets as we did in the 70s and 80s.

We definitely get far more daylight and fresh air indoors in summer - the back door is open all day as long as someone is home. We have a hammock and a table and chairs just outside the kitchen door so it's nice to go out even for a few minutes with a cup of tea. I like to sit out there at 2am sometimes with a brew, just enjoying the complete quiet. All upstairs windows are open 24/7.

In winter, we keep the bedroom windows open all the time even if it's just an inch. I like the fresh feeling, even if the outside temperature is freezing. I think keeping windows open all the time can give a better nights sleep.
I have the radiators turned down lower upstairs. I also have my hall thermostat turned down lower than most people. Its just as easy to keep warm with clothes and throws than keep turning the heating up.

Nowadays people stay indoors more than outside. I like to spend time outside and having kids helps. If we stay inside it will be to much arguing and screen time. So going out to play is must for us. We try to keep our windows open as much as possible to let fresh air in.

I’m on maternity leave at the moment, we spend at least 6 hours a day outside. At the park, in the garden, the woods, city farm, just pottering about. I love not being in the office & being able to spend so much of our time outside.

Living in Scotland it's harder to get optimum weather for outdoor living, but as Billy Connolly says ' It's never the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes' so we're a family who walks, climbs, bikes and glamps, sometimes in all.weathers. Having 3 boys we need to make sure there's enough to take them away from screens, so every weekend they play rugby in all
weathers too.

This summer has been amazing so far. My middle son and I were just lying chatting on the bed in the loft room with the gorgeous breeze coming through the Velux.

Saying that, when the nights draw in we love snuggling under cosy covers and enjoying our home.

This summer is definitely the exception as we are spending alot more time outdoors. When its colder we tend to spend most evenings indoors and most part of one of the weekend days and then out for the other.

For the past few years it's been tricky getting the amount of outdoor time that we'd like. Having a toddler who sleeps for 3/4 hours in the day, but only in her bed, has meant arranging things so that we still get to do outdoorsy stuff.

As for an 'in door generation' I simply wouldn't place myself their. I grew up exploring and walking across Wales and the Pennines, and I'm now starting to do the same with my children.

I'm lucky to have a huge conservatory, which when the weather is bad, we can still have to door wide open and remain dry but get that much needed fresh air. Failing that, waterproofs were invented for a reason!

I definitely think we spend too much time indoors. This summer it's been so hot that we haven't been out so much as normal, much nicer to be inside with a fan on!
Having said that we are out every single day walking the dog, and we have outdoor hobbies, so maybe we're not doing so badly.

ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah thanks for the laugh @colldude

My OH is a farmer so naturally we are an outdoorsy family and spend almost all our family time outside! But that said on days when it’s just me and DD and we don’t feel like doing much we always get outside for at least a couple of hours, whether it’s walking the dog, feeding the chickens or just playing in the garden. It lifts the mood and breaks up the day!

How much time do you think you spend indoors?

Really sadly probably close to 90%

What do you think of the claims that we’ve become an indoor generation?
I think we really have with people driving more and children less inclined to play outside. Also more people work in offices.

Do you have tips for ensuring your family gets the benefits of daylight and fresh air while you’re spending time indoors?
I have succeeded most when I've made it part of my routine and said I will walk to activities rather than drive.

I had to give up work due to ill-health at the end of last year and I spend far more time indoors than I used to, especially as I am no longer to walk more than a very short distance. However, in the summer, I do like to be outdoors, even if it is just sitting in the garden or sitting in a garden when meeting a friend for coffee.

My husband drives to work but, as we have two dogs, gets out for a least an hour daily, and much more at weekends. My three older children all have jobs where they can walk to work, so get some fresh air then and also when they take the dogs out.

My youngest DD, age nearly 12, used to spend so much time outside - either playing in the garden or going up to the park to meet friends, as well as the daily walk to/from school. However, since starting secondary school last September, she has changed so much. Homework and a change in friends means she rarely meets anyone at the park and she spends far less time in the garden. We are about 2.5 miles away from her school so she does sometimes walk to/from school but, as she has a bus pass, she will often use that. I do my best to encourage her to walk either to/from school daily, just so that she gets some fresh air and exercise, but it is a constant battle.

As an add-on from above: We do, as a family, belong to the National Trust and so try to visit a property at least once a week in the holidays and once a month during term-time. Where possible, I use a mobility scooter, but otherwise rely on someone pushing my wheelchair. I feel at least it gets my youngest DD out and doing something. I do also send her to the local supermarket during holidays - it isn't too far but at least she is exercising.