Spiritual benefits of outdoor recreational activities

If you’ve ever noticed that you feel better after engaging in outdoor activities, you’re not alone. Time spent in outdoor recreation leads to a range of benefits, from reduced obesity rates to strengthened family ties, according to Robert Manning, professor of recreation management at the University of Vermont. Whether you prefer a leisurely stroll along a nature trail or a strenuous hike up a steep mountain path, outdoor recreation sites provide the setting for physical and mental growth.

Physical Benefits

Regular outdoor activity provides a number of physical health benefits, including lower blood pressure, reduced arthritis pain, weight loss and lowered risk of diabetes, certain cancers, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Getting 150 minutes of moderate exercise -- such as biking or brisk walking -- or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week -- such as hiking or cross-country skiing -- help maintain a healthy weight and reduce risk of chronic disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2009 study in the “Journal of Park and Recreation Administration” found a correlation between access to outdoor recreational spaces and overweight, obesity and adults’ physical activity levels. Specifically, less-active and more overweight adults spent less time participating in non-motorized physical activities in recreational areas.

Social Benefits

Along with an increase in physical activity, outdoor recreation offers the chance to socialize, an important benefit in itself. For instance, birdwatching incorporates several activities, including the physical movement of walking, interpreting visual and auditory input, and speaking to other birdwatchers, according to a 2010 report from Resources for the Future. The report also notes that social settings of outdoor spaces, especially urban parks, are associated with positive experiences. Outdoor physical activity can also increase pride in the community, as well as offer the chance to meet people with similar interests, says Kent State University professor Andrew Lepp.

Outdoor activities lead to an increased confidence, improved creativity and better self-esteem, according to Lepp. Natural settings rejuvenate and calm the mind, improve outlook and increase positive affect. In contrast, artificial environments may cause feelings of exhaustion, irritability, inattentiveness and impulsivity, according to Resources for the Future. Outdoor time can even help you focus; 2009 research in the “Journal of Attention Disorders” shows that 20-minute walks through natural settings lead to improved concentration.

Emotional Benefits

Both physical activity and outdoor settings reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Spending time exercising in a park leads to an increase in positive moods and a reduction in cortisol levels, a hormone released when the body feels stress. Similarly, increased access to green space for activities such as walking decreases stress -- especially for children, according to Cornell University environmental psychologist Nancy Wells.

References

Resources

Writer Bio

Based in the Southwest, Linsay Evans writes about a range of topics, from parenting to gardening, nutrition to fitness, marketing to travel. Evans holds a Master of Library and Information Science and a Master of Arts in anthropology.

Outdoor activities, including play, movement, and intentional being (as opposed to mindless doing), have numerous mental, physical, and spiritual health benefits.

If you do not spend much time outdoors now, I am confident that you will feel a difference in your well-being after spending time outside each day for a month.

The Health Benefits of Outdoor Activities

1. Mental Health

Please note that I am not a mental health expert or practitioner, and you should consult with a mental health professional for your mental healthcare. This is not mental health advice.

There are numerous mental health benefits associated with being outside in green spaces. A quick search of PubMed indicates that a lot of research still needs to be conducted to determine the extent to which being out in nature helps improve our mental health and why.

It is no secret that I live with anxiety and depression. Being outside in nature lifts my mood, lowers my anxiety, and relieves my stress. While outdoors, I can limit or stop ruminating about events of the past or future. I think it also increases my mindfulness and creativity. My experience out in nature provides me with a level of serenity that is not available to me inside.

How do you nourish your mental health? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook, or on Instagram.

2. Physical Health

Please note that I am not a medical expert or physician, and you should consult with a medical professional for your healthcare. This is not medical advice.

Vitamin D

Exposure to sunlight, which boosts our bodies’ production of vitamin D, provides many of the physical health benefits of being out in nature. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and, therefore, for strong, healthy bones.

Vitamin D has various additional health benefits even beyond facilitating calcium absorption:

“In addition to classic actions related to mineral homeostasis, vitamin D has novel actions in cell proliferation and differentiation, regulation of the innate and adaptative immune systems, preventive effects on cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and even antiaging effects.”

Gil, Plaza-Diaz, Mesa 2018

Stated more simply, vitamin D may help our immune systems, cardiovascular systems, nervous systems, and more.

Physical Activity

Being outdoors also provides more opportunities to be physically active, which also has a host of health benefits for most people. For example, exercises that raise one’s heart rate can support the cardiovascular system, including heart health and blood flow to crucial organs. Physical activity is also beneficial for developing good bone health and preventing muscular atrophy.

(Note: Exercise may be harmful if your caloric intake is low enough to create an energy deficit or if you struggle with an eating disorder.)

Other

“Greenspace exposure is associated with wide ranging health benefits, with meta-analyses results showing statistically significant associations with reduced diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, salivary cortisol, incidence of type II diabetes and stroke, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, as well as health-denoting associations with pregnancy outcomes, HRV, and HDL cholesterol, and self-reported health…[and]…non-pooled outcomes including neurological outcomes, respiratory mortality, and increased sleep duration.”

Twohig-Bennett, Jones 2018)

How do you maintain your physical health? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook, or on Instagram.

3. Spiritual Health

Please note that I am not an expert in spirituality or religion, and you should consult with someone you trust for spiritual healthcare. This is not advice.

Many of us now equate spirituality with religion. And, for those of us who reject formal religions, we often fail to recognize the importance of maintaining our spiritual health.

For me, spirituality is my connection with something greater than myself. It is how I transcend my relationship with material possessions and connect with Mother Nature and how I discover and practice my purpose in the world. I experience my spirituality when I am entirely immersed in the present moment–when I am in a state of flow.

I have never accessed my spirituality indoors, except maybe with my niblings. (Niblings is the gender-neutral term for nieces and nephews.) I struggle to connect with my spirituality in any human-built environment.

One of the most significant spiritual moments in my life occurred while I was hiking in Colorado. After trekking for a long time and being fooled by several false summits, I finally reached the top of a ridge, and there was a whole herd of elk at the top to greet me. It felt magical. I live for moments like these.

How do you nourish your spiritual health? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook, or on Instagram.

Outdoor Activities

1. Play

There are unlimited ways to play outdoors. You can chase your friends (or kids) around while playing tag, use your imagination, or even play organized sports. If you play something that requires equipment (e.g., a sports ball), try to borrow it from a friend or buy it used.

Here are a few ideas:

• American football (be careful!)
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Catch
• Cricket
• Dodgeball
• Fetch with a dog
• Follow-the-Leader
• Four Square
• Frisbee
• Golf
• Hide-and-seek
• Hot Lava Monster
• Lacrosse
• Make Believe/Pretend Play
• Red Rover
• Soccer (i.e., football)
• Softball
• Tag
• Teather ball
• Volleyball

My favorite is playing fetch with my dog. What is your favorite way to play outside? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook, or on Instagram.

2. Movement (Fossil Fuel-Free)

There are numerous ways to get from one place to another outdoors. You can use your feet on land, your whole body in water, or even partner with a horse! If you choose a mode of movement that requires equipment (e.g., a surfboard), try to borrow it from a friend or buy it used.

Here are a few ideas:

• Bicycling
• Canoeing/Kayaking
• Hiking
• Horseback riding
• Jogging
• Rock climbing
• Rollerblading or rollerskating
• Running
• Skateboarding
• Skiing/Snowshoeing (okay, probably not in June for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere)
• Snorkeling
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Walking (including dog-walking)

My favorite is hiking. What is your favorite movement-related outdoor activity? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook, or on Instagram.

3. Slowing Down

There are unlimited ways to slowly and intentionally spend time outdoors. You can do practices that cultivate inner peace, enjoy the flavors and textures of good food and beverage, or interact harmoniously with the fungi, plants, and animals you encounter. If you practice something that requires equipment (e.g., binoculars), try to borrow it from a friend or buy it used.

Here are a few ideas:

• Birdwatching (and/or listening)
• Composting
• Enjoying your favorite beverage (coffee, tea, wine, etc.)
• Gardening
• Journaling
• Meditating
• Picnicking
• Practicing yoga
• Reading
• Wildlife-watching and identification

My favorites are gardening and observing wildlife. What is your favorite slow, intentional outdoor activity? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook, or on Instagram.

June #WildSustainabilityChallenge: Outdoor Activities

Participate in an outdoor activity every day during June.

You can do it! Please take a picture of your activity and share it on social media with the hashtag #WildSustainabilityChallenge so we can all be inspired by one another. Let us know how the challenge is going in the comments below, on Facebook, or on Instagram!

References

Gil Á, Plaza-Diaz J, Mesa MD. Vitamin D: Classic and Novel Actions. Ann Nutr Metab. 2018;72(2):87-95. doi: 10.1159/000486536. Epub 2018 Jan 18. PMID: 29346788.

Twohig-Bennett C, Jones A. The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes. Environ Res. 2018 Oct;166:628-637. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.030. Epub 2018 Jul 5. PMID: 29982151; PMCID: PMC6562165.

GardeningHealthHikingIntentional LivingMental HealthMovementOutdoorPlayPlayingSlow LivingSpiritualitySustainabilityWildlife

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