Things to do With Your Shirt Off While in Your Backyard

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Conditions: 44 degrees, sunny, windless. A calm day.

The other day I was feeling couped up and physically “off”.  My wife suggested that I take some Vitamin D.  With all the online and indoor work that I’ve been doing lately, I realized that I had been neglecting my normal practice of periodically getting at least 15 minutes of sunshine.   

Some people, you know, swear by getting their shirt off so much that it’s a daily habit for them.  Craig Weller, who is one of my influences, staff strength coach at Precision Nutrition, and a fellow veteran, made getting shirtless sunshine time part of his daily “brawny baseline.”  Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to nausea and bone weakness, so why not get it the most natural way, at least in moderation, eh? 

Of course, when you’re actually at the beach, it’s simple: rip the shirt off and lay out.  Use a towel if you want to, maybe hit the waves.  But land-locked, during the colder months?  Let’s face it, most of us aren’t just going to lay out.  And it’s not just a temperature thing: the sun’s lower angles this time of year mean it’s actually harder to soak up the sun, especially laying down. 

And it’s not just a temperature thing: the sun’s lower angles this time of year mean it’s actually harder to soak up the sun, especially laying down. 

So here’s my “hot” list of shirtless backyard activities.  They’re all personally tested and they only take  about 5-15 minutes each. 

  • Inspect the premises.  Have a look around.  Actually walk to that corner that you never really get up close an personal with.  Make some mental notes on projects.  Winter is a great time for planning OR projects.
  • Play with your dog.  A little bit of fetch goes a long way.  Both you and the dog are probably not getting enough activity in anyways. 
  • Put in a (extremely) short workout.  Something is always better than nothing and this can rescue an otherwise lost training day if circumstances are conspiring against you.  My preferred shirtless backyard workout is Kettlebell Snatch.  It definitely takes time and some coaching to learn the skills, but it’s a phenomenal way to develop strength and stamina in less than 10 minutes.  Alternatively you could simply bust out as many pushups or body-weight squats as possible in 5 minutes. 
  • Indian Clubs.  This is my favorite way to catch backyard sun by far.  It combines movement, stretching, a little bit of strength, and it feels wonderful, especially for tight shoulders and upper back.  During WWII, some of our soldiers in the 101st Airborne reportedly spent hours training with these while waiting at staging areas in Great Britain, due to the almost hypnotic nature of the movements.  https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/an-introduction-to-indian-club-training/ If you’re in any sort of sport that involves a lot of shoulders, do yourself a favor and learn more about clubbin’.
  • Write in your day planner, gratitude journal, or otherwise capture your daily notes.  Not only is note-taking an important skill in-and-of itself, but it can be quite therapeutic.  Why not couple it with a dose of the ol’ Vit-D?  Special downsides: this won’t work so well on a windy day. 
  • Do a bit of yard-work.  Since it’s winter, mowing is out, but chopping wood is definitely in!  If you’re fortunate enough to have some wood to chop, you can spend a few minutes on this whenever you need an outlet. 
  • Simply enjoy a cup of coffee.  Don’t feel like any special exertion?  No problem.  Grab a warm cup of your favorite brew, take off that shirt, and head out back.  You can dual-use this for relaxation time as well.  Even something as small as a few deeper breaths and seeing a few blades of grass move in the wind can have a positive psychological impact. 

Coffee and sun. Not bad. I’m not relaxing though…

So what are you waiting for?  Get outside and appreciate some fresh air!  Oh, and you’ll probably need to get it done before 3:30 or so. 

Let me know what you chose to do below. 

Current Reads: A King is Coming, by Paul Wilbur, 2017

On Wearing Aloha Shirts in the Autumn

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A couple weeks ago, right on Labor Day, we were treated to some unusual weather.  A nearly 70 point temperature swing in a few hours, dropping from 99 degrees to a low of 34, brought snow, chill, and a definite feeling that summer’s days were numbered. 

So the question popped into my mind: “Is it ok to wear Aloha Shirts in the Fall?”  to which the immediate reply came: “duh”.   But how best to pull it off without looking out of touch?  Here’s my thoughts:      

One of my favorite Fall Aloha shirts: an example of what I’ll call “muted red,” mostly because of the texture.

First, Temperature vs Fabric. 

Yes, here in Colorado we will still get very hot days for a while, albeit mixed with cooler mornings and evenings that cool off faster.  This means that for the most part, short sleeves are still on. 

–100% cotton is usually very breathable and is still a go.  Since it’s super common, chances are you already have something in your closet.

(side note: if you haven’t donned your tropical finest yet this summer WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU!?!?!) 

–Rayon is a weird one.  While it can be a great fabric for summer, it walks the line between breathable and sticky.  These shirts are usually done in a “camp” style (think Magnum, PI) and if you’re not careful you’ll be swimming in it.  They feel just a little too “loose” and informal for autumn.  I say reserve for cooler summer days and only the hottest fall days. 

– Cotton-poly blend.  This is the Autumn sweet spot.  It’s breathable enough that you won’t get too hot, but insulating enough that a light chill won’t send you running for the nearest jacket.  (Note: I tend to run hot and prefer being “comfortably cool”)  A company that pulls this off really well is Reyn Spooner.  Also, these blends will tend to have enough structure so you can layer.  Which brings up…

Layering with a Blazer in cooler weather later in the year.

–Layering.  It’s usually a bummer to have to cover up your favorite print!  But a blazer can look sharp.  Sweaters could work too, although I’ve never actually tried that.  I don’t recommend your standard outdoorsy technical-looking mountaineering jacket or wind-breaker.  That will look sloppy. 

The Next Biggest Consideration is Mood:  

If you feel like you’re clinging too hard to the last little bit of summer you’ll get sad!  Instead, why not lean into the “wilder moods” of Autumn while enjoying the remaining heat? 

Prints that evoke the stirring of natural elements like flags, nautical, and smaller prints are usually better than large florals.  Avoid scenics.  Surfboards are good to go.  After living a significant part of my life in California, I can tell you that the first brisk surf feels almost as much like fall as the first football game. 

Also, weirdly, avoid Christmas prints.  Christmas in July is over, Gentlemen.

And Now for Color:

Here in Colorado the Autumn doesn’t offer the same luxurious palette that you would get on the Eastern seaboard and it’s quite dry.  Most of the leaf changes are going to be gold, as reflected in the aspen trees and honey locust.  So I’m going to skip golds and go complementary.  

Anything with a white base will be pretty awesome.  I think that white lends itself to a nautical feel.  And while the assumption might be that nautical and summer go hand-in-hand, when the winds pick up in the fall, the white-capped waves really contribute to the vibe! 

This Lahaina Sailor in “Natural” has a nautical feel and is perfect for warm fall days!

Blacks are more difficult to find but this is actually the best time of year to bust them out! Black can be overkill in the summer and too depressing in the winter.  In the spring we all want pastel hues.  Autumn is when black shines!   

I think this Reyn Spooner is a magnificent example of Black executed in a way that’s very appealing for Autumn. It’s definitely on my hitlist.

Muted reds are a great choice!  They’ll contrast while still being on-vibe.  As the hotter days wane, though, you’ll want to steer clear of brighter reds.    

Green can work well, as long as there’s not too much yellow in it. 

For blues, stick closer to the Navy side, and steer away from bright or baby shades which can contribute particularly to that wistful feeling of wishing that summer wasn’t over.    

I asked the guys at the Reyn Spooner Fan Club to share one of their favorite Fall shirts and here were some of the submissions: (from left to right: Dave, Kristian, Mark, Brent, Tom, and Darin. Thank guys!)

Surprisingly, I hadn’t thought about browns and oranges, and of course you can always go directly for some fall mood with leaves in the print. Tom is feeling the black like I am. Somewhat surprising is that white (or at least cream) seems to be a commonality!

What about you?  I’m particularly interested in how you choose to layer your Hawaiian shirts, if at all.  Do you have a favorite color?  Or maybe you have go-to shirt or two that just says “Well, Autumn.  You might be here now, but Aloha beat you to it.”

Until Next Time,

Joshua