The View - Issue #2

A Case for Outdoor Life

Outdoor lifestyles are healthier lifestyles not only physically, but mentally. Here we will delve into some of the more subtle benefits of spending time in nature. This is not, by any means, a comprehensive list, but I will cover several physiological and mental advantages that nature can provide. Many people often get stuck in that daily grind of working, eating, sleeping, and repeating. I think taking some time away from that seemingly never-ending cycle makes all of the difference. What better place to do it than the great outdoors?

We, as individuals, often find ourselves overworked, stressed out, or simply just struggling with an unrelenting exhaustion that never seems to ease up regardless of how much rest we get. This can be detrimental to your mental health in more ways that one. If you stop and take a deep breath, sure, you can go back to work and feel alright for a little bit, but you are only prolonging the inevitable. However, if you’re looking to relieve the stress of your daily life, then the best course of action is to get some fresh air and do things that you enjoy outdoors.

Now let’s assume that you’re a die-hard workaholic that cannot get your mind away from work. A study published in the Journal of Psychological Science has proven that people experience greater levels of focus when spending time in nature whether they’re doing an activity or just sitting quietly. I am by no means telling you to take your work outdoors, but it’s a better alternative than sitting in your musty office. This will make your work life go much more smoothly and you may even reach breakthroughs and conclusions you otherwise might not have.

Not only can an outdoor lifestyle be beneficial to the mind, but it also has physiological benefits as well. Your overall feeling of wellness will be enhanced after adopting, and sticking to, a more active outdoor lifestyle. These health benefits can be short-term or long-lasting depending on your level of activity. Below, I will break down a specific effect that adventuring in the great outdoors can have on a few of your body’s organs their corresponding internal systems.

The cardiovascular system is one of the most important things to maintain in your body. Sure, you can exercise in the gym to promote cardiac fitness, but there are two things drawbacks to that method: it’s not as healthy for you as being outdoors and it isn’t nearly as fun. As the air flows through your lungs oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in the bloodstream and carried throughout the entire body. Breathing natural air helps lower stress levels and reduce blood pressure, resulting in better cardiovascular fitness.

Another important component of your body’s health is brain chemistry. Go outdoors on a sunny day and you’ll simply feel better. This is because your body is naturally absorbing vitamin D from the sun, which plays a key role in the creation and release of serotonin in your brain. Natural sunlight helps to prevent and combat depression in this way. Dopamine, another “happy chemical” in your brain, is produces by completing small rewarding tasks or reaching a goal. When you have the feeling of exhausted accomplishment at the end of a long hike or reel in that fish that’s puts up the fight of its life, you have dopamine to thank for that. If you’re into more extreme outdoor sports, adrenaline and endorphins are what you’re forcing your body to produce. Adrenaline is released in order to trigger a “fight-or-flight” response within your body and is most often produced when you are potentially in danger. Endorphins are released in response to pain, often when your body is pushed past its physical limits. Endorphins are the cause of the sensation commonly referred to as “runner’s high.” As the brain releases endorphins, stress levels decrease drastically.

Exercising anywhere is good for your muscles, we all know that. However, in order to have strong muscles, you need strong bones as well. Each muscle pulls against bone when you exercise and that’s how strength is actually gained. Believe it or not, all those heavy weights do is make your muscles pull harder against your bones. In order to strengthen your bones so that you can build up your muscles, your body needs calcium. One key factor in the absorption of calcium into your bloodstream and the calcification process of your bones is vitamin D. Yes, natural sunlight can actually make you stronger in this way. If you have a vitamin D deficiency, working out will not yield the same results and may actually harm your body.

In conclusion, these are only a few of the hundreds of health benefits that spending time outdoors can have on your body. You will be surprised at how much better you feel if you spend more time outdoors. So get out more often and do some fun recreational outdoor activities like camping, hiking, or fishing – your body will thank you. Even setting aside time once a week to spend an hour or two hanging out in your yard soaking up the sunlight will have serious health benefits. Whether you’re doing vigorous exercise or simply sitting outside in the sunshine, it’s much healthier than sitting indoors on a sunny day.

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