Spending more time outdoors is widely recognized as one of the best ways to boost your health. Recent research echoes this sentiment and shows that those who spend 120 minutes outside weekly were 20% more likely to report high life satisfaction and were typically more healthy than house-bound peers.
However, spending enough time in the great outdoors can be tricky if you work in an office or are responsible for children. Finding time to explore the natural world can be even trickier during the winter when short days and muddy trails may make you think twice about lacing up your hiking boots or taking the bike for a spin.
The best way to remain active and get outside is to pick up an outdoor hobby that you love. An outdoor hobby — like fishing, playing team sports, or snowshoeing — can increase your motivation to get outside and will raise your spirits when the winter months roll in. These hobbies can improve your stress management and combat the negative consequences of a sedentary lifestyle.
Boosting Your Fitness
Spending time outdoors will raise your pulse and increase your physical strength. Even relatively easy-going hobbies — like gardening or walking — can improve your balance, boost your coordination, and enhance your overall well-being. Additional benefits of physical fitness and spending time outdoors include:
- Improved self-discipline and adaptability;
- Enhanced brain function thanks to greater blood flow;
- Provides goal-setting practice.
A recent meta-analysis of studies that explored the health benefits of outdoor recreation also found that spending time outside reduces blood pressure, lowers your heart rate, decreases the risk of diabetes, and improves your sleep. Outdoor activities can be a real boon if you’re stressed out at work and are struggling to keep up with life’s demands. Taking some time to pursue outdoor hobbies enhances your strength, balance, and cardiovascular health while improving your resilience and reducing your stress.
Improved Resilience
Increasing your physical health is an essential step towards minimizing stress and enhancing your mental resilience. The adverse health effects of work-related stress include:
- Headaches and migraine;
- Sleep issues and disruption;
- Digestive problems like GERD and IBS;
- Mood swings and anxiety;
- Increased risk of illness and disease.
Spending more time outdoors can help you avoid many issues associated with work-related stress. Put simply, a short walk in the woods or a game of tennis takes your mind away from your worries. This idea is championed by psychological research collated by the American Psychological Association. Being exposed to nature was proven to improve cognitive function, working memory, and attentional control. Additionally, researchers found:
- Spending a few hours outside reduces stress by replenishing cognitive resources and appeases our innate desire to connect with nature.
- Engaging in outdoor hobbies like trail running and skiing can “perk up a tired brain” and provide restorative benefits to those exposed to prolonged stress.
- Connecting with nature can improve subjective well-being and lead to a more positive outlook when facing challenges.
These benefits can be a real boon if you’re struggling to overcome everyday stressors and need to take a load off. By setting aside time for outdoor hobbies like playing pickleball or running, you can enhance your resilience and improve your ability to overcome stress.
Finding Time for Hobbies
If you’re an outdoorsy person, the idea of spending more time in nature is likely very appealing. However, most people struggle to set aside time for hobbies when juggling work, children, and other commitments. You can balance your hobbies and passions to spark a better work-life balance by:
- Assessing your priorities and choosing a few essential pastimes that mean the most to you.
- Saying “no” to social events and engagements would interfere with your ability to partake in an outdoor hobby.
- Blocking time for your hobby by scheduling well in advance.
- Setting goals to increase your motivation and enhance your overall well-being.
- Keeping your hobby equipment clean and well-organized to improve your time management.
These simple steps will help you find time for your favorite pastimes and increase your overall well-being. You don’t have to become an ultra-runner or wild-water swimmer to enjoy the great outdoors, either. Examples of enjoyable outdoor hobbies include:
- Walking: Set a daily step goal and plot routes through local green spaces and nature reserves.
- Sports: Work up a sweat while having fun by taking up a hobby like pickleball, soccer, or cycling.
- R+R: Rest and relax in nature by picking up a painting or sketching hobby. If you don’t enjoy visual arts, consider bringing a paper pad and writing in a journal or producing a few poems.
These hobbies can help you connect with nature while enhancing your physical health and well-being. Reflecting on nature can motivate you to spend more time outdoors, too, as journaling is a great way to destress after a busy day.
Conclusion
The health benefits of outdoor hobbies are hard to overlook. Spending 120 minutes outside can boost your subjective well-being, enhance your physical health, and help you connect with friends. You can get more from your time outdoors by planning a few engaging activities like journaling, playing sports, or trail running.
