There\u2019s a popular activity making its way onto Canadians\u2019 to-do lists this summer: unplugging outdoors.<\/p>\n
In a world saturated by screen time and technology, more people are putting down their devices and spending time outside, says\u00a0Brock University Associate Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies Garrett Hutson.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a growing movement geared towards embracing nearby nature: your backyard, your local trail or the park down the street,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
While people have always used outdoor spaces for exercise and to connect with nature, they\u2019re now also using them to combat the negative effects of screen time, Hutson says.<\/p>\n
\u201cResearch shows specific segments of the population, such as Gen Z, which has been \u2018plugged in\u2019 more than any other generation, are turning to nearby nature more often to offset the negative health impacts of being plugged in all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
The outdoor recreation researcher sees the shift as more than a fad but part of a broader reassessment of how people spend their leisure time and what they need to support their well-being.<\/p>\n
Although research continues to examine the negative physical and mental health impacts of screen time, social media and constant connectivity, Hutson believes many people are coming to their own conclusions based on lived experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeep down we know we\u2019re not wired to consume this amount of information at this speed for the extended periods of time we\u2019re exposing ourselves to,\u201d he says. \u201cI think people are starting to understand the positive impacts of not only unplugging but doing so outdoors socially, such as with family and friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re starting to authentically reconnect with unplugged experiences and see first-hand that life is better without the constant sounds, badges, notifications and apps stealing attention and directing it to things that largely don\u2019t matter. Compare how it feels to doomscroll on your phone alone with walking in the forest with a friend, and that\u2019s all the proof you need.\u201d<\/p>\n
The demand for outdoor experiences has only grown in the age of digital overload. However, time outside isn\u2019t without its own obstacles.<\/p>\n