Outdoor walks improve mental health and bring you happiness
There’s no questioning among the outdoorsy community about it: being outdoors is good for you and makes you happy! But in case there’s still need for proof, there are actual science-backed reasons as to why being outside makes you happy and healthier.
British and American scientists from the University of Michigan and Edge Hill University in England have published new research showing that group nature walks help us combat stress while boosting mental well-being. They evaluated 1,991 participants in England’s Walking for Health program, which hosts nearly 3,000 walks per week for more than 70,000 regular participants. They found that the nature walks were associated with significantly less depression in addition to mitigating the negative effects of stressful life events and perceived stress. The findings were published in the September issue of Ecopsychology.
The best part is that besides the mental and emotional benefits there are also physical and health improvements, since exercising outdoors -unlike working out in a gym- has the extra advantage of natural sunlight exposure and all the associated benefits of Vitamin D production that it brings, plus research shows that we get better workouts when we are outside.
So, why walk or run on a treadmill when you could hike on an actual natural trail?
Exercise outdoors with the help of Outdoor Geek’s backpacking gear and camping packages!
Outdoors Geek is the home of rental camping gear. We bring fun and exciting outdoor experiences within your reach, with top quality gear from companies such as The North Face & Marmot. We are based in Denver, Colorado, but ship all our gear nationwide and you never pay for transit time. You actually get to pick the brand and style you need depending on the type of trip you are taking (based on availability)..
We love the outdoors and are the only place on the planet where you can Rent it, Try it, or Buy it! We are here to help put quality outdoor experiences within your reach. Call now for further assistance (303) 699-6944 or email us at contactus@outdoorsgeek.com.
