That’s right – get your butt outside and exercise- go for a hike, mountain bike ride, or just a walk in the park! A systematic review was done by the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry in 2011, comparing results of 11 existing studies. They concluded that the benefits of outdoor activity in nature are just as beneficial as indoor exercise, along with the added benefit of being outside with nature!
“The study found that most trials showed an improvement in mental well-being: exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalisation, increased energy and positive engagement, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. Participants also reported greater enjoyment and satisfaction with outdoor activity and stated that they were more likely to repeat the activity at a later date.”
So, if you want the biggest bang for your buck, try throwing in an outdoor adventure into your weekly exercise routine.
References:
- J. Thompson Coon, K. Boddy, K. Stein, R. Whear, J. Barton, M. H. Depledge.Does Participating in Physical Activity in Outdoor Natural Environments Have a Greater Effect on Physical and Mental Wellbeing than Physical Activity Indoors? A Systematic Review. Environmental Science & Technology, 2011; 110203115102046 DOI: 10.1021/es102947t