This past Saturday I went to Sandy Bottom park near campus to eat my lunch. As I sat outside, I noticed the amount of families out and about walking the trails with each other. I thought, wow that’s so nice to see so many families enjoying each other’s company outside. However, after further consideration I noticed every single one of them was staring at their phone. Every. Single. One. No one spoke. No one even bothered to look up to see where they were going. Absolutely appalling, what’s the point of even visiting the park at that point? Rotting your brain outside is no better than staying home to rot your brain. Now you’re just also wasting gas to get here. That’s a double negative. In spite of these “nature loving” posers, here are five things to do on your walk to keep yourself away from your phone.
1: The ABC game
The ABC game is an easy way to help keep your brain focused on something else besides your phone. The game is rather self explanatory, unless you’re under the age of three and have not learned your ABC’s. If that’s the case, then how are you reading this? Anyways, start by looking for something that starts with the letter A, like an apple. Then move to B, like a bird. Then C, like a cloud. You get the point? Then continue all the way until you hit Z.
2: Listen to music
The fall season is crippling most of us. Whether you had your October cannon event or not, the colder weather tends to put most people in a very pensive state of mind. Put on your favorite playlist and reminisce on that person who ghosted you or the mean thing your mother said to you four Christmases ago. Use that time to reflect. Maybe it could be a good reflection. Think of all the things you’re now grateful for. Or maybe the changes you’ve experienced this year. Anything that keeps you from refreshing your exes Instagram feed when you’re supposed to be enjoying nature.
3: The color game
Pick a color, any color. Preferably not green or brown, because that may make this game rather boring. Pick a color and count how many times you see it. Maybe it’s pink flowers or trees with orange leaves. If you’re with someone, make it a competition as to who can have the highest number.
4: Bird spotting
Have you ever noticed how many different kinds of birds there are? There are a lot. Like seriously a ton. While you’re out walking, look to see how many different birds, or how many of the same birds, you can spot. This can also assist in your color game and ABC game.
5: Clean up
Next time you’re out for a stroll, collect some good karma by strapping on some gloves and carrying a trash bag to help pick up trash you see on your way. Keeping the trails clean can protect the animals that inhabit it and the plants that grow there. Do yourself and your fellow nature loving posers a favor by keeping it beautiful and healthy.
Get outside, get some fresh air and do not defeat the whole purpose of your walk by staring at your phone.
