Get Outdoors and Feel Alive: Benefits of Nature in Our Lives
Getting outdoors can save lives. Seriously. We live in a world that is constantly going, and buzzing with activity. Recent studies have shown that people are more stressed, more anxious, and have more mental health issues than ever before. Chronic stress is a silent killer, it leads to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and a verity of mental health issues. But the one thing we can sometimes forget is that the great outdoors is always waiting for us! We all need to get out of our offices, the house, and into the natural world around us, because it can do wonders for our mental health, our creativity, and even our overall well-being. Let’s take a look at why getting outside saves lives.
The Benefits of Nature in Our Lives
Getting outside has a plethora of benefits that are sure to make you feel alive and it saved Amy and my lives! From hiking, camping, canoeing, hunting, fishing, biking, skying —all activities that involve nature—we reap rewards like improved moods, better focus, and more energy. Going outdoors helps ease stress, anxiety, and depression while increasing productivity, creativity, and resilience; And who does’t want to reap at least some of those benefits in their own life? If you experience a stressful event while on an adventure, (like being stuck in a lighting storm on a lake in a canoe), the aftermath can be a euphoric experience that can give boost your confidence and sense of accomplishment. Plus it will add the stories you get told around the campfire, for years to come! But even something as simple as taking a walk outside can have profound positive effects on our bodies, thanks to the abundance of fresh air and sunshine.
The History of The Benefits of Nature in Our Lives
Humans have harnessed the benefits of nature over the years. Thousands of years agao, we didn’t have the complex social structors like we do now…life was MUCH simpler. Our ancient ancestors lived in the present - they were hunters and gatherers and they didn’t have time to worry about much, beyond finding food and shelter. When we are out in nature we can transpose ourselves to some extent back to those more primal (simple) ways of experiencing life. When Amy and I were on a canoe trip in the Boundary Water Wilderness Area in Northern, Minnesota, we found our priorities were very different then in our every-day life. Finding a suitable place to camp, processing water to make it safe to drink, finding dry wood for a fire, making food, and setting up our camp were all we needed. Our instincts are still there. When we are enveloped by nature, it creates an innate feeling of safety and security within us. Being surrounded by trees, mountains, or rivers helps us connect better with ourselves, because it allows us to be present - in the moment - instead of worrying about what happened yesterday or stressing over what might happen tomorrow. To put it simply: getting outdoors helps keep us grounded and mindful. The benefits have been around for thousands of years, we just need to utilize them more.
Get Outdoors and Feel Alive with Others
Outdoor recreation also has immense value when it comes to building relationships with others; there’s nothing quite like spending time together in nature! Whether you’re hiking a mountain trail or fishing on a lake with friends and family members, you’ll find yourself enjoying each other’s company without needing words—the beauty of nature does the talking for you. And because outdoor activities allow individuals to express themselves freely without judgment from others (or from themselves!), these recreational activities serve as perfect opportunities for personal growth and discovery among friends or partners alike. You can learn so much about another person, as you do activists outdoors together. Amy and I absolutely love getting outdoors together. We make it a high priority in our marriage to get outdoors together as a couple and with our family. Those shared experiences are also fantastic to create beautiful memories and lasting feeling of closeness among those that shared the experience together. The value of being outdoors with others is tremendous and definitely worth looking into incorporating into your life if you haven’t already.
Getting outdoors is essential for both individual growth and personal relationships alike; its benefits are practically endless! From improved moods to better focus to increased resilience—not to mention all the opportunities for exploration—getting out into nature offers an unparalleled experience compared to any other activity available today. So don't forget: no matter how busy life gets or how much work needs done behind a desk or computer screen, taking some time away from the everyday hustle-and-bustle can be exactly what you need sometimes! Get out there—you won't regret it!