It’s (Almost) Nice Out. Go Outdoors.

As soon as the temperature hit 60 degrees on Saturday and the cloudy skies gave way to sunshine, most of my friends knew exactly where I would be – at Narragansett Beach, enjoying the weather. Throughout all of fall and winter, I’ve been waiting for it to get nicer outside.

Late spring and the entirety of summer is easily the best time of the year, in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong – I love winter far, far more than the next person. But what beats swimming on a hot summer day, cookouts during the evening and fishing as the sun goes down?

I, for one, cannot wait until the weather is nice enough that I can spend more of my waking-hours outdoors than I do indoors. I cannot wait to trade walking in the cold wind for swimming in warm water or trade my Xbox controller for a fishing pole.

Of course, what constitutes “nice weather” is subjective. Personally, my concept of “nice weather” is hot and sunny. Some may disagree with me, but I think the majority of Americans prefer some variation of summer weather over most of the other seasons’ weather.

For college students, the beginning of summer may not mean complete freedom, due to summer jobs, but it does generally allow for more free time. In that free time, it is important to go outdoors.

Our generation likes to think they spend a lot of time outdoors, but do we really? In the summer, I frequently see Instagram pictures of beach trips, hikes and cookouts. But, does that really mean our generation is spending lots of time outdoors, or simply that they document every occasional time they do go outdoors?

I can’t convince everyone – in fact, maybe I can’t convince anyone – that being outdoors during the nice weather is superior to being indoors.

Nonetheless, I can encourage my generation to go outdoors more now that the weather is becoming nicer.

Why play a video game that you could have saved for a rainy day, rather than watching a breathtaking sunset? Why stay indoors simply because it is air conditioned, rather than going for a hike and experiencing the serenity of a lush green forest for as far as the eye can see? Why like Instagram pictures of people swimming in their pools rather than going swimming yourself?

Now, don’t get me wrong. There will be times that it’s just too hot to breathe out, and I substitute a bike ride for playing Xbox, or I’m too tired after a long day of work to immediately go outside.  

Of course, it is ultimately up to the individual as to whether they enjoy the plethora of nature that surrounds them. Some people may not feel the same way, but I’ll trade a couple mosquito bites and sunburn for being able to capitalize on months of swimming, hiking, sunset-watching, fishing and more.   

When you go outside in the morning, the birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, it’s noticeably warmer and the grass is slowly starting to green. It’s April, and if you’re anything like me, you’re rejoicing that spring is once again here.