On July 6, 2016, "Pokémon Go" was released, a game which would quickly invade the day-to-day lives of millions of people in only a few days. Not only is the game entertaining and easy to play, it's backed by a whole generation of nostalgia that helped rocket the app to its success. For many, it has become integral to their waking hours. Finding one of these individuals without their phones up and out is as rare as finding a Ditto. There have already been reports of vehicular accidents caused by this game, and it only takes a trip to the nearest town square to see just how prevalent "Pokémon Go" has become in the average person's life. In response to this near-obsessive behavior, here are just a few things you can do instead of playing "Pokémon Go."
1. Go to the gym
A weight room can be a pretty intimidating place. Many people have never even set foot in a gym, much less actually trained in one. No matter how long you've been working at it, there's always someone stronger than you. If you think it's dangerous to go alone, take a friend! You can work together or challenge each other to push your limits. Work hard at it, and you'll find plenty of valor at the gym. Probably more than you should.
2. Visit a church
When I say visit a church, I don't just mean a quick stop in the parking lot. Maybe going to church isn't your thing, but it never hurts to give it a try!
3. Take a walk
If you're looking for an easy way to get out of the house, then look no more! Walks are a fantastic way to get moving without overtiring yourself. Find a nice, scenic route, throw in some music, and you can have yourself a short, relaxing mini adventure. It's good exercise, and coupled with a healthy diet, you can really start to see the weight drop off! If you're hungry after your walk, fill up on some proteinous eggs!
4. Search your area for wildlife
Another fun activity to do outdoors is to watch for animals. Animals can provide entertainment, and enjoying the beauty of the wild is absolutely lovely. Record your findings in a journal and learn more about the local fauna. If you attend a university, see if there are any professors researching the wildlife in your area. You may find yourself getting involved in something bigger than a simple pastime!
5. Cross a street without watching for traffic
Please don't actually do this.
6. Train your pets
Whether you're looking for a simple house pet or an animal to enter into competition, all pets require attention, time, and energy to teach and grow. If you want to have the very best pet, like no pet ever was, you are going to need a lot of effort and even more treats.
I'm sure the idea of putting away your virtual pokeballs is probably terrifying, but something needs to be done to combat this "Pokémon Go" take over. These six activities are probably novel ideas to those who have been lost in their phone screens for the past few weeks, but they are easy ways to get back into the real world.
