You know you shouldn’t hibernate all winter, but the motivation to get out in the cold can be hard to locate.
Here’s an idea: Get a trail cam.
These are battery-operated cameras that stay outside and take a picture or short video when something moves in front of them. You can access footage from your mobile device or you can just pick them up and look at the photos they captured.
It can be a fun reason to dress up warm and leave the house, even if it’s only for 15 minutes or so. If you can’t go for a long walk, just position the camera so you can reach it in a few steps.
Imagine the information you will get! Is that feral cat eating the food you left out or is an opossum sharing it with him?
There are advantages to going out for a short spurts when it’s cold (but not snowy or icy). Admittedly, it is not always pleasant when temperatures drop, even in warmer climes.
Still, it can be a fun project. Find a place where you can put the camera — about 200 steps gives you a short, brisk walk back and forth. Choose a place where you think animals walk by — an outdoor water bucket, for example, or a feral cat food bowl.
You’ll get:
– Natural light to stimulate your nervous system, according to the Mayo Clinic. You get in touch with the seasons, stabilize your mood, and stimulate your body.
– Improved balance. Being physically active reduces falls by 50 percent. Sitting makes balance worse!
– Being in nature improves memory and increases alertness.
– Better sleep from exposure to sunlight.
– Fun. If nothing else, you might get a funny animal self-portrait to share with friends and family.