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 love spending time outdoors, although, admittedly, after a poor night's sleep I do sometimes need peeling off the sofa in the morning & shoved out the front door - but once I'm out, it feels amazing!
Especially important in Winter I think. Like many people, I struggle with the lack of daylight & it really impacts my mood. Getting outside, whatever the weather, & making the most of daylight hours always makes me feel better & makes me much more pleasant company for my family! :)
I've just bought a bike so LO & I are cycling to school each morning which takes a little longer, but is a great feeling :)

When the weather is good we live out side when wet it’s housework for me

It depends if its a work day or not. During my working day I try to be out and about at much as possible with my clients. I'm lucky that I work 1 on 1 in a community role so I can't go for walks outside or meet at a park. When I'm working from home I try to get my laptop outside weather permitting but sometimes have to work inside to make calls. When I'm out of work time I'm inside more than I want as I have to feed up, clean, iron, help with homework etc.
I probably spend 60/40 inside to outside.

We like looking out of our velux Windows at the night sky!
Daytime have a lovely view of tall trees, sky have had the velux window open since March, enjoying fresh air and birdsong!

Far too much time as I actually prefer being outside

I spend far too much time indoors recently as I don’t like being out in the sun too much. We are much better when looking after DS two dogs as it makes us go outside much more.

We spend nearly all our time indoors. We aren't really concerned with fresh air in this family, I'm not sure whether it effects us negativly. We have some personal things which stop us getting as much fresh air.

We try and get out and about as much as possible. It’s not always easy as my DD is disabled and it takes ages to get ready and out the door - but definitely worth it. I’ve always felt that kids go ‘mouldy’ if they don’t get fresh air.

DD had a 48 hour EEG a couple of years ago, she had sensors on her head connected to a little machine which had a display representing brain waves. The very second we stepped outside the door all the lines changed - as if her brain activity suddenly increased!

I'm not outdoorsy at all, and probably spend more than 90% of my time indoors! I only really spend time outside when I have to - so walking from A to B, or when the garden is too abysmal to leave anymore and needs clearing.

It varies massively for us. I have a chronic pain condition, & frequently have to spend 2-3 days in bed when I'm unwell. DH does his best to keep life normal for DD (6) but it's hard, especially as he has his own mobility issues & walks with a stick.
We don't have a car (can't afford one), so on the days I'm well enough we try to go out every day, in almost any weather. We are fortunate enough to live in an area of the country where we can access the countryside fairly easily on foot, & there are some lovely walks locally. We'd like a garden as it could improve our lives - DD could play out more safely, & we'd love to have somewhere to sit outside. It's on the list of things we want when we move.
We have the upstairs windows open as much as possible, often continuously from April - October. The windows for my & DH's bedroom are slightly open in weathers (all last winter, for example). Our house is small, & a bit damp, & having the windows open definitely helps, especially as we don't have space for a tumble dryer. I'm on antihistamines throughout the year, partly because of the damp making my asthma worse.
I do think that a lot of people spend insufficient time outside - TBH we could easily fall into this pattern. Modern technology - gaming, the plethora of ways to watch TV & films at home, internet shopping, prevalence of car ownership - all add up to it being possible to stay inside virtually 24/7 if you want.

I actually spend a lot of time being outdoors. We as a family, are big fans of football , so we often go to the park and play football. Or if we can't do that then we play in our garden.

Now the children are grown up I don't go outside if I don't want to. So on pleasant days I'll potter in the garden and eat/drink outside. But for most of the year I only go out to get between A and B. Apart from watching sport, then I have to be outside whatever the weather.

We have dogs- no better way to ensure regular walks- rain or shine!

I think we are more indoor than we used to be historically. We were outdoors all holiday and that was lovely. I prefer outdoors and it makes me feel good in a way that being indoors does not. The weather is ever the problem of course.

I love the summer's in England as it is not too hot and the evenings are light, so we tend to eat our evening meal outside a lot in the summer. I don't spend as much time outside in the winter so I am always glad when summer comes. I think the outdoors definately makes you happier.

I love to be outside and it's my instinct when I'm feeling stressed etc. DH is a lazy bugger though who would happily sit on his phone or in front of the TV all day and night and I have to nag him to come out walking with me. He will sit in the garden though. It's tricky with the DC. We have 5, 2 of whom are teen DD's and need a bomb to shift them. The 3 younger ones go out to play and some days are out for hours on end. When we plan our days out now, they are always centred around being outdoors and often involve picnics, walks, beaches and parks.

We get outside every day, even if only to stand outside the house and watch the cars (trucks, bikes, police cars, bin lorries etc etc - I have a one year old!). The fresh air of any sort always seems to calm him down.

I find it hard to encourage my daughter (9) to go out but once we go, it’s great. We did a beach clean the other day & she met a group of kids from the adjoining campsite. My husband’s into cycling & we are planning a few family rides. I was always going for bike rides & walks as a child. No technology then to keep us indoors!
I like the house lovely & airy. Sadly no Velux Windows here 😞

Probably more than most. Suncreaming three children is time consuming so we often avoid the 11-3 outside on hot days.

We spend more time than I would like indoors. Much harder with teenage kids to get them out. We open all the windows but it's not quite the same as exercising outside!!

We spend 90% of our time indoors. One child diagnosed asd doesn't cope well with heat or crowds so the hot weather isn't good, but then he doesn't cope with clouds, wind or rain either so we are quite hampered. I have resorted to buying a 16ft trampoline, swing hammocks and a massive sunshade for the garden to try and make it more usable so they get some fresh air....but then there's wasps. Hey ho, aren't summers grand.

staying inside is good too. sex and stuff is always fun but ya know, same thing can be done in public just a bit less comfortably. thank me later.

I spend most of my days outdoors as I am a very fit and active 63 year old. Come rain , shine or snow I do a very early morning session on my outdoor rower. I go for long walks everyday and as I have an enormous garden with 3 large lawns I spend a lot of my time outside tending it. I watch TV for less than 30 minutes a day and I do not play video games. I would rather just sit in the garden than sit inside.

Very little during the Summer. During the Winter we stay in a little more if the weather is bad. We have two dogs to walk so they encourages us to get out and about whatever the weather!

If weathers good I feel guilty for staying indoors, so even if it’s just a short walk we get out. I do love being at home though, so I do love a bit of rain ;-)