Today’s the last day of the school year for my three kids. Summer is officially underway. I hope my kids have a blast doing what kids should do in summertime: backyard play, bike rides, beach days, splash pads, lemonade stands, ice cream cones, capturing grasshoppers, getting dirty and sweaty, and sleeping in.

What I hope they don’t do a lot this summer: veg out in front of screens. As much as I can, I’ll be encouraging my kids to get outside and be active, enjoying God’s beautiful creation—screens out of sight and mind. But this is something I need to preach to myself too.

For TGC this week I issued a “summer challenge” to do more strolling and less scrolling: Go on walks for at least 30 minutes a day, phone free. It’s a challenge for me as much as anyone. And it’s harder than you think. Even when I carve out time to go on walks, I often multitask by listening to a podcast or calling someone on the phone. That’s better than not walking at all, I suppose. But there’s real value in unmediated time outside: walking, running, hiking, or simply being still for a period of time in the beauty of God’s creation.

Leave your house without your phone and go outside in nature. Summer is a great season to take up this challenge. You’ll be glad you did.