One of the few perks that arose during the pandemic: normalizing more time outdoors. If you are not one of the people who passed time during lockdown finally exploring your neighborhood or going on that bucket list hike in your area, there is still time!
With the changes in our social and corporate structures as a result of the pandemic, it is easier than ever to find time for outdoor activities and exercise. It is up to you to take advantage of the opportunity and make outdoor time a habit while timing is right – that way, as your “normal” routine comes back into play, you’ve already made it a habit to carve out time for the outdoors. Even if you’ve already gotten back to your normal, this pandemic surely instilled the importance of taking time for wellness and nature.
Reasons to increase Outdoor time
- Mental relief
Whether you’ve just begun your wellness journey or have been at it for years, it is always beneficial to allow yourself a mental break from the stress your health regimen may cause. If you are not the type to particularly enjoy working out or dieting (but keep to it for your health), allowing yourself an outdoor break or implementing the outdoors into your exercise routine can provide major mental relief. Being outside can help exercise feel like a fun activity instead of a chore, or can provide a refreshing break from the monotony of a gym.
Additionally, nature offers an environment that does not demand your active attention; in other words, it gives your mind a break from the daily overstimulation that has become normalized in the average workday through your phone, computer, or colleague interactions and demands. While this may seem like a simple idea, giving your system a break from this constant stimulation can make a huge difference in your stress levels.
- Add challenge and variety to your workout regimen
Going to the gym and using the same exercise equipment can be a comfort and help build routine. However, mixing outdoor activities into your gym schedule can activate new muscle groups or challenge your cardio routine with unique elevation or atmosphere conditions (read here for a list of awesome outdoor activities you can try in LA to implement variety into your exercise). In other words, it brings focus to specific muscle groups that you don’t often use in repetitive workout routines.
Even if you don’t prefer to do outdoor activities, you can make time outside part of your routine. If you have a home gym or a local outdoor gym, do the same workouts that you would inside–in the fresh air!
- Natural antidepressant
There are a number of studies that connect exposure to sunlight with an adult human’s serotonin levels. Specifically, serotonin levels have shown to increase with more access to sunlight, and decrease during the seasons where the day is shorter (less sun). Therefore, getting yourself outside for even 10 minutes per day can instantly boost your mood (by increasing serotonin production) and improve it overall. Exposure to sunlight can also encourage oxygenation in your tissues and it boosts your vitamin D levels, helping your body keep healthy homeostasis.
- Alleviate insomnia
In combination with vitamin D and serotonin, which increase with exposure to sunlight, melatonin regulation is closely related to light exposure. Melatonin is naturally produced in response to darkness to regulate your sleep cycle, but exposure to light slows this production. When light enters your eye, your brain relays that information to your natural internal clock, syncing your light exposure periods with “awake” and your corresponding lack of light periods as “sleep.”
- Save time and money
One of the best parts of exercising outdoors – it’s FREE! You can jog around the neighborhood, move your yoga mat or free weights outside for your usual circuit, go for a hike, swim laps in an outdoor pool, or play a sport with outdoor courts like basketball or tennis.
Exercising outdoors can also save you time. Instead of having to commute to your gym from work or your house, you can step outside and walk to the local park. Alternatively, you can set up your gym in your yard, on your patio, or on your roof deck.
- Community interaction
Using those public greenspaces can also put you into contact with others from your neighborhood. Spending time in the areas around your home increases the chance of encountering your neighbors, discovering local businesses, or meeting new friends at the park. It’s a great way to involve yourself more in your community, and really feel like a contributing member of your area!
Much of society has begun to pretend the pandemic is over–and fortunately the virus has mellowed in severity enough to make contracting COVID-19 less daunting–but spending your time in public outside is still one of the best ways to avoid spread of the virus. It is a fairly wide-known concept that spending time outside improves your health and well-being, but this is even truer during the global pandemic. Somehow, it is still a struggle for many people to prioritize outdoor time during their day. Don’t let that be you!
In addition to building in time for movement and mindfulness, your time outside is the perfect occasion for your exercise routine. Making this a habit knocks out your daily vitamin intake AND ensures that you have fresh air and beautiful scenery during your workout! Don’t let the opportunity to work nature into your schedule pass you by.