Outdoors and mental wellbeing

Being active outdoors can boost your mental health and wellbeing

The benefits of being active outdoors extend beyond physical health, it can also benefit your mental health and wellbeing. Exercising outdoors has been demonstrated to reduce tension and stress and increase mental and physical energy, all of which contribute to decreased bodily sensitivity to anxiety.

Regular outdoor exercise is proven to increase your focus and motivation, as well as boosting your energy and brainpower. Additionally, people who exercise outdoors say they are more likely to exercise again compared to those who stay indoors. People who exercise outdoors also do it more often and for longer than those who exercise indoors.

Outdoors is a term used to describe being outside. It doesn’t have to be a National Park or remote location. It could simply be spending time in your backyard or local park. To increase time spent outdoors, look for ways to fit outdoor exercise into your regular routine. This could include walking or cycling to the shops or work instead of driving, or if using public transport, get off the train or bus a stop earlier and walk the rest of the way. You might like to walk or ride with your kids to school, or go for a bush walk over the weekend. You could even get outdoors around the house by doing some gardening, washing the car or cleaning the windows.

You can also increase the benefits of outdoor exercise by adding mindfulness to develop a stronger connection with nature.

Connecting with nature

Research shows connecting with nature has been associated with improving and maintaining mental health and wellbeing, and lowering levels of depression and anxiety. Those with a strong connection to nature are also more likely to feel their lives are worthwhile, as well as just generally producing happy emotions, such as calmness and joy.

Being connected to nature involves feeling a close relationship or emotional connection to your natural surroundings. Your connection with nature can be developed through any activities that involves the senses, or create feelings of compassion when in nature. This could involve breathing in the fresh air, or listening to the sounds of nature. You could also engage your creative side to develop your connection with nature, such as writing a poem or short story about nature or painting/drawing a nature scene or landscape.

Look for ways to Act Belong Commit outdoors

The mental wellbeing benefits of being active outdoors are clear. Particularly if you Act Belong Commit. Want to get more active outdoors?

• Act: Do something outdoors. Go for a walk, ride, swim or paddle. Do some gardening. eat your lunch outside. Spend some time in nature or at the beach.
• Belong: Do something outdoors with someone. Strengthen your sense of belonging by connecting with others who share your interests. Take a friend, family member or colleague for a walk, ride, swim or paddle. Explore local events, join an outdoor group or activity, or community garden.
• Commit: Do something meaningful. Volunteer for an outdoor event, activity, group, or community garden. Make a plan to get outdoors on a regular basis or set yourself a challenge to be more active outdoors.

Search the Act Belong Commit Activity Finder today to see what is available in your area.