Outdoor Wellbeing

Being in the outdoors isn’t just about having fun or getting from ‘A’ to ‘B’, it is also about your wellbeing. Health specialists suggest that spending time in the outdoors can lower stress, blood pressure and improve mental health, mood and enhance healing and recovery while enjoying the benefits of sunlight. If you haven’t been outside or in the outdoors of late, here are 5 ways how being in the outdoors can benefit your wellbeing.

Being active doesn’t mean you have to go and run a marathon or walk the Appalachian Trail to enhance your outdoor wellbeing, it can be as simple as taking a walk in your neighborhood, park or a day walk in a forest park.

Biking – Go for a bike ride in the local park, a lunch date that you have to ride to or a take a trail ride with a friend or friends.

Outdoor gym – For those that run, trail running is an alternative to running on hard surfaces in your neighborhood.

Out & about – simply meeting up with others in an outdoor environment. spend some time at a park with family and or friends. Wellbeing can just be about spending time with others.

More on Active Outdoor Therapy

Meditation – Whether you’re a pro or you’re just starting out, outdoor meditation in a bush environment has health benefits. Outdoor meditation can be impowering and help activate other senses making you more alert.

Art session – We all have some form of artistry in us whether you enjoy painting, drawing or simply enjoy a good adult coloring book, your next painting, drawing or coloring session should involve a trip in the outdoors, if not find a cafe with and outdoor area.

Outdoor gym – Bypass the gym at least once a week and take your workout to the outdoors. This could be a pre-existing circuit in a local park or being inventive by creating your own in a forest park.

Green gyms – are a great way to meet other people, learn more about wildlife conservation and learn new skills. Volunteer a day to a conservation project. This could involve planting, protecting or awareness and is a great way to get into the outdoors, fitness and giving back to the community. A wellbeing must.

Gardening – Experts suggest that gardening is a great way to decrease stress, anxiety and depression. A garden doesn’t mean you need a suitable outdoor area, a garden could be an indoors herb garden or simply indoor plants.

Medicinal plants – Take a course in medicinal plant use, you’ll be surprised at the wellbeing benefits to your mental health. There may be many medicinal plants in your local area without growing your own. Learning the safe use of medicinal plants can also have benefits on your physical body as well.

There is nothing like being in an outdoor environment to get all your senses working. Find an outdoor environment, a quiet spot, sit next to the biggest tree you can find and let your senses go wild. Close your eyes, what do you hear? What do you smell? What do you feel? Touch the ground, touch or hug a tree, reach for the sky.

Take a break – Stop whatever you are doing and go outside, take a short walk and breathe the air, smell the flowers in a local park, get some sunlight and enjoy life.

There is something special about the outdoors and even more special when you can spend a night in the outdoors. Spend a night with mother nature, you will be amazed at the wellbeing benefits this has. It doesn’t have to be in the bush, it can be in your backyard with family friends or a loved one. It could be as simple as being in a sleeping bag on a deck or balcony viewing the stars, or your backyard, in the bush in a tent, or cooking S’mors or marshmallows on a campfire.  Spend some time snuggled up in your sleeping bag reading a book or doing nothing at all, the time will be well spent either way.