The Outside 365 Manifesto
I've had a very simple idea stuck in my mind—inescapable, tantalizingly-attainable, but surprisingly-difficult to achieve—for years. That idea is born out as a goal: be active outside, every day, for 365 days straight. I’m calling it Outside 365.
Not an Original Idea
Before I go further, I must point out that this isn’t an original idea by any means. A simple Google search reveals at least 3-4 different websites dedicated to the idea. Some of these blogs have simple goals, like moms taking their kids out of the house every single day. Others are a bit more complex, such as having the goal of covering 365 miles of ground under human power in a year. (Note, that goal isn’t everyday activity, but rather a total in a year—similar to Mark Zuckerberg’s running goal back in 2016.)
Others hone their focus even further. A cult-like subset of runners addicted to this idea are called “run streakers.” The basic definition of a run streak is to run a minimum of one mile per day, every day… for as long as you choose. Many run streakers make the challenge more difficult, by choosing to run outside every single day, and generally running much more than one mile per day.
To some run streakers, 365 days might be unattainable… but to others, that’s barely getting started. Early in 2017, the longest run streak ever recorded came to an end at 52 years and 39 days. 52 years and 39 days! I can only imagine accomplishing a feat of that magnitude.
Above and beyond runners, I know so many mountain sports athletes who simply live the Outside 365 lifestyle and think nothing of it. It’s not like they have to set a plan to go outside every day—that’s just what they do. The question isn’t whether or not they’ll go outside, but what adventure they’ll choose to embark on during any given day.
I’ll confess: I was a little disappointed to realize that my grand plan, this idea that’s kept resurfacing in my soul for years, wasn’t an original idea. But then I realized something: the fact that so many other people have felt compelled to set similar goals in their own lives indicates there’s a really important truth here. Not only does a growing desire for this goal amongst others confirm that this is a goal worth pursuing in my own life, but the goal of getting outside and being (more) active might just have implications for people around the world.
We Need This
The desire to complete this challenge germinated somewhere deep inside of me, in a place that I can’t quite define. Sometimes, trying to retroactively assign a meaning to a desire is more than meaningless, but I think the desire to go outside and be active springs from deep roots.
We—Americans, and westerners at large—are dying from a lack of movement. According to the CDC, over one third of adult Americans are obese, and “obesity-related conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer, are some of the leading causes of preventable death.”
Even for those of us who might be in decent shape, a lack of time spent outdoors and in nature is shown to negatively impact our moods and our psyche. Mental well-being is the primary reason that my soul craves to go outside and be active. Moving my body through the woods and the mountains is an extremely centering experience, allowing me to process my negative emotions and live a well-balanced life. I’ve learned that I need this… yet it still can be difficult to prioritize.
Personally, I probably fall toward the more active end of the American spectrum. Some people might even consider me to be in decent shape. (But is the athlete ever satisfied?) However, as a writer and an editor who spends 40+ hours per week behind a computer, I can easily go several days—sometimes close to an entire week—without any meaningful exercise. While getting out for a walk or a quick bike ride seems like it should be easy, the addictive call of the lazy boy is real and it is powerful. And, the daily pressures of everyday life can quickly overwhelm one’s schedule, squeezing out the most important activities if we don’t take the time to make them a priority.
Ultimately, I’m undertaking this challenge for self-centered reasons: to maintain my own health, and as a way to live the richest life I can imagine.
What counts as a day spent outside?
In my original Outside 365 goal, I counted any day where I was outside and physically active as meeting my goal. This could include things like splitting firewood, shoveling dirt, or mowing the lawn.
But then, I decided to step it up and take a page from the run streakers’ book. Now, my benchmark requires that I cover at least one human-powered mile per day, outside in the open air. Since my body can’t seem to handle doing one single activity every single day without succumbing to overuse injuries, I choose to mix it up with a slew of different sports—not just one like run streakers.
If you choose to embark on the Outside 365 challenge, you get to choose what your own personal benchmark is. We always get to choose our metrics of success in life, even if we sometimes don’t realize it. But if you’re looking to adopt a clear-cut goal, 1 mile is very straightforward.
It’s a Lifestyle
At the end of the day, Outside 365 isn’t about trying to achieve some arbitrary goal. It’s about embodying a lifestyle. It’s about finding a way to live life to the fullest and to savor every single day, not letting a day go by without at least one moment of joy, peace, fulfillment, and connection to nature.
I have so much more I’m excited to share about Outside 365! To get started, I recommend reading the Crucial Tactics Series, which will empower you with the strategies and mindsets to stay the course, even when it gets difficult.
See Also: “Welcome to the Counterculture”
