The nights might be getting longer and the weather might be cooling off, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up all of your favorite outdoor activities. There are so many benefits to spending time outside—like an improved mood, increased energy, and better sleep—just to name a few.
Outdoor exercise combines two health-boosting activities: moving your body and getting outside. And the results are exceptional. If you’re looking to enhance your mood, save money, and avoid the time and hassle of going to the gym, look no further than the great outdoors.
Here are five benefits of getting your sweat on with Mother Nature.
It improves your mental health.
Outdoor exercise provides an extra mental health boost beyond the gym. Getting outside has been shown to reduce anger and depression and increase mood. Plus, sunlight enhances your vitamin D production, which may be partially responsible for the mood-boosting effect. And you don’t have to run a marathon to reap all of the benefits —even low-intensity activities, like going for a walk or gardening, will do. For a quick afternoon pick-me-up, get outside for a 15-minute walk, and you’ll return to work feeling nice and energized.
It improves your sleep.
Exposure to natural light during the day can help regulate circadian rhythms, making it easier to fall—and stay—asleep at night. Secondly, physical activities use up a lot of your energy, leaving you feeling tired and worn out. In addition, tiredness increases the time we spend in the deep sleep phase. This phase is pretty important, as most physical restoration of the body happens here. Plus, better rest leads to improved immune function to keep illnesses away as well as improved cardiac health to keep cardiovascular diseases in check.
Additionally, outdoor exercise can help reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and loneliness, which can also contribute to sleep disturbances.
It boosts your physical health.
Getting out into nature can motivate us to walk, bike, hike, or kayak more often. People typically engage in regular physical activity when they’re spending time in nature. So, stepping outside can help you keep a healthy weight or even lose weight by increasing activity levels.
Studies also show that being in nature has a positive effect on our bodies by reducing our cortisol levels, muscle tension, and demands on our cardiovascular systems (so it can help lower your heart rate and blood pressure). Being outside often may lead to lower rates of heart disease. The great outdoors can also help you increase your vitamin D level, which is important for your bones, blood cells, and immune system.
It improves our thinking.
When we’re in bustling urban environments or at the office all day, we can sometimes experience sensory overload—resulting in tension and mental fatigue. Studies have shown that our minds and bodies relax in natural settings, which increases feelings of happiness. This can help us concentrate better and focus more effectively.
Being outdoors can also have relaxing effects on our minds. Nature can provide a mental break by letting us temporarily escape the demands of everyday life. It can also boost our creativity, and even our problem-solving abilities.
For example, if you’re having writer’s block or can’t seem to solve a problem at work, just step out for some fresh air. Take an easy walk around your neighborhood or the office, it’ll help clear your head.
It’s easily accessible.
Lack of time is a common barrier for exercising. To go to the gym, sometimes you have to navigate busy traffic, parking garages, and crowded locker rooms. This adds additional time just to get active. Taking advantage of the great outdoors can reduce these time constraints. Local hills, tracks, and neighborhood streets provide ideal walking, running, and cycling settings, while nearby parks offer venues for resistance training, boot camps, and yoga classes.
Plus, many outdoor areas have benches, trees, inclined roads and even designated exercise equipment, allowing for a variety of resistance-training exercises.
Outdoor exercise is good for your body and mind, no matter what time of the year it is. And during the fall and winter, exercise can help ward off the blues and boost your energy levels.
We hope these benefits will help you feel motivated to take a break and enjoy the great outdoors. At OnSite Wellness LLC, health and wellness is our specialty.
Incorporating a wellness program at your workplace can have massive benefits for your employees in managing their health. Contact us to learn more!
