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

This summer holidays with the weather we have spent a lot of time out doors but I will admit that generally we probably spend too much time in doors. I haven't got any valid excuses really it just seems to be how it goes. My kids love crafts and board games so they enjoy being indoors especially if weather is miserable outside.

Too much. But lately because of sunny weather have been out more

We do our best to get outside as much as we can, someone told me when I was pregnant that children are like dogs and need two good walks a day. On days at home we try and go out at least once to the park or walk to a shop to buy some milk I don’t really need but just as a reason to walk and burn energy.

I try to have as much time outside as possiable. I would like to say 2 hours a day i love gardening so that helps. I think it is very important for my 1 year old son to have time outside so i have brought outside toys and a play tent to have outside

We spend a lot of times outdoors in the summer my little boy loves football so most nights he is down the park with my husband playing footy , and I take a picnic for dinner .
We also go to play tennis as our local courts are free entry and they have child courts so it’s a nice cheap few hours in the outdoors

If the weather is reasonable I spend a lot of time outdoors...walking, photography, exploring or nearer to home tending to the garden.
If it is a day of heavy rain I will often catch up with chores inside but much prefer to be out and about.

During the summer we spend most of our time outdoors if we do get any rain we go into the conservatory leaving the doors open to still get plenty of fresh air

Blame the good old British weather! Due to this heatwave we have still been bouncing on the trampoline 9 o'clock in the evening.
I have had the chance to teach my son to ride his bike without stabilizers. There was non of this if the weather's nice tomorrow we will go to the beach or to the park. The weather was going to be nice!!
On a personal note the fresh air and sunshine beaming through the blinds every morning during this heatwave, has given me a motivation and a happiness like I have never known. Keep on shining sunshine, don't even mind the sunny showers!

In the summer its a lot less, the winter a lot more. during the summer we only really spend the evening inside

We try to get out every day but it is difficult during term time

On maternity leave so spending a lot of time outdoors as my little one loves being out and about. I'd say between 6-8 hours. Been wonderful we have joined lots of places with annual passes such as botanical gardens and wetland centres and I realised my passion for nature.

I guess over the course of a year we probably spend more time indoors than I would like to admit to BUT we are outdoor people and even in grey miserable weather we tend to wrap up and go out. We live right on the coast and have grown to love the wild weather and wild seas so will often be the only family on the beach...There is a saying that there is not such thing as miserable weather, just inappropriate clothing and that is true to some degree (apart from extremes of course)

With the weather so hot we are indoors more than out but when weather is not to hot we are out more than in.

Apart from mealtimes and sleep then as a family I'd say that we are outside as much as we possibly can whilst it's light. It's usually only the weather that sends us back inside but that's not been a problem this summer.

thankfully our 6 yr old is a real outdoors type of child and spends minimal time inside even in the winter!

I dont spend as much time indoors as i used to. I used to work in an office so spent my days and nights inside. However I now work dog walking and dog day care so i am more active and spend most my time outside, then come home to take my own doggy out and of course take my kids with me. I agree we live in a generation where most are indoors, most kids have tablets, xbox's etc and can talk/interact with their friends this way rather than the old fashioned play dates! However I am very aware of this so my kids have things like their tablets at certain times, such as half an hour before dinner. I make sure they get active by going out on family walks, exploring new places and new play parks to keep them interested. Finding the right walks is a must as I take my kids to places where it is interesting, such as ponds to find animals, an adventure play ground at the end of our walk etc. Make the most of the (usually free) ranger activities and events at your local country parks my kids have always loved this. Go rock pooling at the beach, walk up a hill and take a picnic, try finding voucher codes online for places like Go Ape or farm parks.

More time than I would like to mainly due to this country’s foul weather although of late it’s been good for a change!

We're really outdoors people all year round. But still most if not all morning is indoors and every evening! We pack picnics and go for big days out walking. More recently we've started cycling and I've started running. Always more and more reasons to plot adventures!

a large amount of time indoors. We try to arrange outdoors activities to give our DC more experiences.

Depends on the weather and activities. If it’s dry we’re generally out and about! Hard to quantify a time but as much as we can x

We don't get outside much, I do shift work and husband doesn't drive so it's usually back garden only, we try to make sure the kids get a couple of hours outside away from screens everyday.

I spend far too much time indoors, working from home long hours can be lonely and mind numbingly boring. Ive never been a fan of sitting in doors all day as it makes me feel like Ive wasted the day and done nothing, but having a husband that works unsociable hours means that if I want to get out; I normally have to go out myself!

I spend a lot of my time indoors as I work full time in an office and in the evenings I'm often indoors. A lot of my hobbies are also indoor hobbies too.

We spend at least an hour outside a day walking our gorgeous puppy. If the weather is nice we will spend most of the day probably 4 or 5 hours outside.

I work part-time, so I get the chance to get out more than many. But I do spend a lot of time indoors (and not just becasue of the hot weather). I do the housework (my husband cooks), but I always spend a lot of time playing pétanque. The kids love visiting castles and suchlike (and theme parks as well). Btu we recently had some French to stay with us and they insisted on having all the doors open all the time. Well, they live in the country, but you just cannot do that in a town. Have they never heard of burglars?