The ‘Great’ Outdoors: How Being Outside Can Relieve Stress

There is a lot of evidence to suggest that exposure to natural environments could be associated with mental health benefits. Spending time in the great outdoors can boost physical and mental health in a range of ways, and you don’t need to spend hours outside before the benefits kick in either.

Stress affects many aspects of our day-to-day lives and can contribute to poor mental health and high blood pressure. Thankfully, the effects of stress can be alleviated by being outside.

According to a 2019 study with over 19.8k participants, spending just 2 hours a week in nature can significantly boost health and well-being. As well as this, Erica Jones, a certified therapeutic recreational specialist at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital agrees that “being outdoors in nature can be healing and beneficial for the body and mind.”

This article will detail how being in the great outdoors can relieve stress and anxiety, and lead you to be happier and healthier.

There is a multitude of mental health benefits associated with being outdoors:

REDUCED MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS

Spending time outdoors in nature has been found to help with mental health problems such as anxiety and chronic stress. Ecotherapy (doing activities outside in nature) has shown it can help ease mental health conditions such as symptoms of depression like low mood and fatigue.

IMPROVED MOOD

Immersing ourselves in nature has been proven to make us feel a lot happier and aid in stress management. Researchers have found that after spending time outdoors, anxiety, depression and anger are notably decreased.

MENTAL RESTORATION

Overstimulation from the likes of screens, ringing phones and busy roads can increase stress levels without you even realising it. The great outdoors can offer a mental and emotional refuge when you need to unwind and recharge again, leaving you feeling relaxed and focused.

CONNECTING TO NATURE

Spending time in green spaces or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical well-being. Connecting to nature by doing things like growing food or flowers, doing some exercise outside or being around animals has many positive effects and improves mood.

CONNECTS YOU TO MORE PEOPLE

Spending time outside is not only good for physical and mental health but also for social contact. Doing outdoor activities such as conservation and participating in sports such as cycling connects you to like-minded people who share your interests.

Being outside doesn’t just provide the means to relieve stress and improve mental health, it also is known to increase physical well-being too. Studies have revealed that “exposure to natural environments is causal to short-term recovery from stress or mental fatigue and to overall long-term improvements in health and wellbeing.” – Pearson and Craig, 2014.

Here are just a few ways that being outside can benefit more than just your mental health:

IMPROVED SLEEP

Improved sleep is one of the benefits often overlooked when you think of spending time outdoors. Exposing yourself to sunlight can improve your circadian rhythm in the following ways:

• Helping you feel sleepier at night
• Improving your quality of sleep
• Shortening the time it takes for you to fall asleep.

MOTIVATION TO EXERCISE

Stressful situations and feeling anxious can hinder your motivation to exercise. However, being outdoors gives you more motivation to exercise. Exercise is not just going to the gym or doing strenuous activity. Physical activity can be any activity that gets your body moving in a way that’s doable for you, such as walking the dog or gardening can offer some health benefits.

BOOSTS IMMUNITY

Getting covered in mud now and again can be a positive thing. Being outside not only means you’re less likely to contract COVID-19, but aside from the pandemic, microorganisms found in nature can help your immune system prepare itself for more serious infections. If you don’t spend any time outdoors, your immune system can be depleted.

LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE

Spending time walking amongst trees or along the beach has been proven to lower blood pressure due to reducing the stress-related hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Walking is also a seriously underrated form of exercise. Raising your heart rate through brisk walking will make your heart healthier, and in turn, it will reduce blood pressure.

If you’re looking forward to getting outside into the great outdoors after reading, remember that adventures begin with PF Jones. Why not browse our huge range of automotive products that can get you on the way to your next adventure?

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