3 Simple Outdoor Ideas for Busy Mums (& Why I Started Play Post)

I love nature. I live close to the woods. I know I feel better when I spend time outside.

And still, there are plenty of days when I don’t feel like going out with my kids. When the energy at home is low, it feels easier to stay inside. Maybe you know that feeling too?

Over time, I realised there are three reasons that often hold me back. And once I looked at them differently, it changed everything.

1. It doesn’t have to be big

For a long time, I thought going outside had to be special: a big trip, a long hike, a new activity. A quick walk around the block or through the forest felt too ordinary.

But when I look back, the strongest memories are never the big plans. I once organised a huge treasure hunt in the woods — only to get stuck at the end of our street. My daughter Ella was far more interested in turning every snowdrop upside down to see how it looked from underneath.

That day reminded me: the magic is in the small, unexpected moments. A new flower or a loud bird call. A new scent  you smell for the first time.

2. Make it fun for you too

Sometimes what holds me back is that I long for “me-time.” I want a pause, not another task. So I asked myself: could I make outside time enjoyable for me too?

Now I plan short walks that include my own small joys. Maybe I take a greener route to a coffee shop. Or I set myself a challenge. One day I asked myself to smell three things on the way. And I was so surprised at what I discovered (try it too!).  There is also magic in looking at things upside down, or zooming in on details — the veins of a leaf, the colour shift in a flower.

When I do this, I come back more refreshed. And the kids feel it too.

3. Even doing nothing resets your brain

Another reason I resist? Feeling too busy. If the kids are occupied, I’m tempted to use that time for something “productive.”

But here’s what I learned from research: if your brain stays in the same gear all day, you’ll feel drained. Stepping outside — even if “nothing happens” — shifts your brain waves. It gives you an unconscious reset.

So even if all we do is stand under a tree or pick up a stick, I come back with more energy than before. That’s worth it.

Why I started Play Post

These three lessons are exactly why I started Play Post.

Every Friday, I send one simple outdoor idea to your inbox. Something you can try with your child — or on your own. Always short, always easy, always enough. A spark to pause, play, or notice the season right where you are.

And once a month, there’s the Backpack Bulletin: three seasonal prompts for the month ahead, so you can prepare, choose, or just let yourself be inspired.

No guilt. No long to-do list. Just a reminder that small moments outside can shift your whole day.

I’d love to hear from you: do you ever struggle to get outside too? What helps you? Do you have your own tricks? Let me know — I’d love to collect your ideas for future Play Posts.