Recently I wrote a post about getting motivated to exercise. One thing that I mentioned to help with that is changing your environment. One change that I mentioned was going outside. So I decided I’d dedicate a post on elaborating on why the benefits of going outside are so amazing.
Who Cares About The Benefits Of Going Outside?
The weather here is finally getting nice. I’ve decided to try and start going outside again. We hibernate up here in the great ice cellar known as Canada. After our seasonal nine months of winter, we can’t wait to get out.
For me, going outside changes everything. Being inside as often as we are due to weather or work tends to drag me down. Once I get outside, my entire state of mind flips over. So for me, it also develops into a good exercise habit.
I go from blah to… finally and thank you. If you don’t know already, Canadians are extremely polite.
Stepping outside changes my mood, my tempo and sometimes even what I was planning to do on a given day. All because I got a little fresh air and some sunshine. It might even make me feel like its the best time to exercise.
Are There Still Benefits Of Going Outside If The Weather Is Crappy?
Even if it’s raining I’ll go outside if it’s warm. I grab an umbrella and just go for a walk. The smell and sound of the rain actually lifts my spirits compared to sitting inside feeling like a hostage.
That’s why if I can exercise outside I’ll do it. It just makes the whole physical fitness routine more enjoyable. I don’t hear myself breathing as much. The air feels fresher. If it’s sunny, that feels great. As I’ve mentioned, the outside just motivates me to do more.
It’s pretty amazing to get outside and feel the sun in your face, the wind in whatever hair you still have and just clear your mind. If you prefer to keep yourself locked in a dark closet watching romper room reruns that’s your business. This is not about judgement.
So for all these reasons, I wanted to find out what’s going on that makes the outdoor experience so much more enjoyable than staying indoors. Obviously, there are some things you enjoy doing indoors. We can get into that another day. For now, here are some of the benefits of going outside.
Photo by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi from Pexels
Why Does Going Outside Feel So Good?
Ever wonder why hitting the great outdoors feels so good after breaking your back in the big bad city? Way more alliteration there than I was planning. Well check this out:
Researchers found that individuals who spent time in the forest compared to those in the city experienced decreased heart rates and levels of cortisol. Increased cortisol levels are associated with stress. I looked it up.
This means jumping rope outside at your favorite park is even better than jumping rope in your office. Same with doing your own version of the plank.
That reminds me. If you’re looking for a fun routine to do outdoors, check out my plank routine challenge. Probably a lot better outside in the fresh air. Make sure you find a nice patch of grass. I’d recommend a park.
Apparently, just having a view of the outdoors reduces stress and improves job satisfaction. Imagine the good you are doing for yourself when you actually venture outside to look at a tree.
If you are struggling to get motivated to exercise, exposing yourself to the outdoors can help get your mind pumped up and back on track.
So jump outside and kick up some high knees and before you know it, you should be ready to go into full workout mode.
Perhaps you’re struggling with inflammation and that’s preventing you from exercising or it’s slowing down your physical fitness routine. Going outside has been shown to reduce signs of inflammation. It’s also great after an intense workout session to just cool down with a walk outside.
There’s lots of other studies if you want to look them up but I’m sure you get the picture.
Just being outside is great for you but exercising outside is great fun too. So if you’re planning a Game of Thrones binge bash with a few of your closest friends, set aside a few minutes to take in the great outdoors. It will make watching that dragon destroy an entire village all the more entertaining.
FYI, there’s no such thing as dragons.
