Almost Always Better Than You Think

Summary

The Basin Pond Challenge is an initiative to encourage spending an hour outside each day, explore new natural places weekly, and witness sunrise and moonrise monthly, all while sharing experiences and benefiting from the positive impacts on physical and mental health.

Abstract

The Basin Pond Challenge is a personal endeavor turned public initiative aimed at increasing outdoor time for improved well-being. It involves spending a daily hour in natural settings, discovering a new outdoor location every week, and experiencing at least one sunrise and one moonrise each month. The challenge, which can be adapted to individual circumstances, emphasizes the joy and health benefits of regular outdoor exposure. It was conceived by an outdoor enthusiast who found that even on days with challenging weather, the time spent outside was consistently more rewarding than anticipated. The initiative encourages sharing photographs and stories on social media to maintain motivation and inspire others, fostering a community around the shared goal of engaging more deeply with nature.

Opinions

The author believes that spending time outside, particularly in green and blue spaces, is highly beneficial for physical and mental health, despite most Americans spending only a small fraction of their time outdoors.
The challenge is presented as a fun and engaging way to commit to outdoor activities, rather than a traditional, daunting resolution.
Engaging in the challenge leads to a deeper connection with nature, improved sleep, and better health, as experienced by the author.
The author emphasizes that with the right gear and mindset, almost any weather condition can be overcome, and the experience will likely surpass expectations.
Documenting the challenge through photos is seen as a key component to fully appreciating and reflecting on the outdoor experiences.
The initiative is adaptable; it encourages participants to modify the guidelines to fit their personal circumstances while still embracing the spirit of the challenge.
The author suggests that by spending more time outside, individuals and society as a whole could experience significant positive changes.

Takeaways from spending an hour outside, every day for a year

An ice-covered Basin Pond at dawn. Ray Wirth photo.

My headlamp carved a feeble light, considering the darkened expanse of the frozen pond. The studded tires of my mountain bike whirred in a steady thrum and provided a secure purchase on the ice. The previous day’s snow flurries had carpeted the perimeter of the pond in white. As I steered my bike along the pond edge, I traced tracks of bobcat, coyote, and deer.

It was after 6 PM on January 14, and the cold stung the portions of my cheeks above my face mask. After a day at work and a commute home, this was my first opportunity to be outside. Being out alone on the ice in the dark was both scary and exhilarating. At intervals, I paused to listen to the hoots of owls. Then I turned off my headlamp and looked up. The pin-pricks of 5,000 stars pierced the obsidian dark. This was day fourteen of my first go-round at the Basin Pond Challenge — and I was hooked.

Time outside, especially in green spaces and blue spaces, has powerful benefits for our physical and mental health. All the research tells us this. Yet most Americans spend only 7 percent of their time outside — in stark contrast to what is good for us.

The Basin Pond Challenge is named after the pond I live beside. Two years ago, I created the challenge as a tongue-in-cheek New Year’s resolution (too fun to qualify as a traditional resolution) and my aim is here to share that spirit of fun — and all those health benefits — with you, my readers.

Just what is the Basin Pond Challenge? The guidelines are simple. You can tweak them to suit your needs and start your year outside on any date: –an hour outside each day for a year –One “new-to-you“ natural place each week –One sunrise and one moonrise each month –Take & post photos, join with others, have fun!

As with other resolutions, having a plan and telling others about it will increase your chance of success. Sharing photos and stories of your adventures can keep you inspired as well as inspiring others. Social media here you come.

Depending on where you live, there may be weather days when the goal of spending an hour outside seems audacious. Having the right clothing and, if possible, a buddy/co-conspirator can go a long way in keeping you safe, comfortable, and happy.

Much like an expedition, committing to spending a daily hour outside requires planning, attention to gear, resourcefulness, determination, and a little bit of crazy. This “expedition,” however, will be spread out over a year and can be done without traveling far from home or without putting aside commitments to family and work. So, sorry, but in terms of not doing it, this makes it harder to come up with excuses.

Speaking of excuses, for those of us with human minds, excuse-proofing is a big benefit of taking on the challenge. “It’s too cold.“ “It’s too hot.” “It’s raining.” “It’s windy.” “I’m too tired.” “I’m too busy” — these are thoughts that prevent us from going outside. But all these reasons for not going are pocket lint. They are distracting only until you investigate them. Until you actually go outside. The wisdom of the Basin Pond Challenge is that the decision to “go” has already been made. And regardless of weather, as long as you have made the right clothing choices, once you are out there, it is, almost without exception, better than you think it will be.

I came up with and took on the Basin Pond Challenge as a way to reach for my best life. For me, this means getting out earlier, staying out longer, doing the things I love even more. Before taking on the challenge, I was already spending more time outside than most Americans. But there were too many days when work or weather provided a tipping point that kept me inside — and I ended up stressed, cranky, and unable to get a good night’s sleep.

Almost immediately after taking on the challenge, I was healthier and happier. I slept better and went the entire year without getting sick. My connection with the natural world deepened and changed. Before the challenge, I was spending time outside on most days, but the quality of that time wasn’t always there. Too often, my outside time was rushed and more functional than fun. I was there for a workout. The move to spending a full hour outdoors helped me to slow down, to savor, to notice. Taking a photo each day was a key part of the experience. Documenting the challenge day by day helped me see the whole experience as a story I was creating, rather than just another thing to check off on a “to do” list. Taking daily photos also encouraged me to seek out new places — and new corners of familiar places. It encouraged me to take more notice of plants, animals, and weather conditions, to seek new vantage points and find new perspectives.

In future posts, I’ll share more about my two go-rounds in completing the Basin Pond challenge. I’ll summarize what I’ve learned from the research. I’ll list practical details such as what kind of gear and how to handle some of the challenges that are sure to come up. Right now, I’d like you to consider the benefits spending more time outdoors could have for you and those you love. What if more Americans spent more time outside? What changes to us as individuals and to our society would result?

Regarding the challenge itself, feel free to adapt it to work for you. If sunrises or moonrises are problematic, don’t sweat it. If you can complete the challenge only four days per week, then commit to that. Extremes in weather are a big part of the adventure — embrace them! Guidelines to hold onto include discovering new places (often better if within walking distance) and the “hour a day” aspect. Being out there just a little bit longer makes all the difference. 2022 can be your year outside. Get out there and see.

Resources: — View photos and read more about the challenge in the Basin Pond Journal. — Share your own photos and see the photos of others by using the hashtag #basinpondchallenge on Instagram.