Do you find yourself easily demotivated when it comes to working out? If so, it might be time to step away from the treadmill and explore the unique perks of outdoor fitness. Keep reading to discover why outdoor workouts are about to become your favorite.
What’s the Big Deal about Exercise, Anyway?
Exercise improves overall life quality in many ways. Exercise strengthens your bones and muscles, reduces stress, boosts energy, and helps you sleep better.
The Outdoor Advantage
Ready for a change of scenery? Here are 4 ways working out outdoors can do wonders for your health.
1. Makes Exercise Enjoyable
Dislike exercise? Try hitting up a park or a beach. The chirping birds and the sight of clouds can all make that afternoon workout more enjoyable.
2. Boosts Energy
Exercising in a sunny environment promotes alertness and wakefulness due to your circadian rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is a biological clock your body follows to know when to go to sleep and when to stay awake.
Your circadian rhythm is influenced by lightness and darkness.
3. Strengthens Bones
Your body creates vitamin D when sunlight contacts your skin. This vitamin is essential in helping your body absorb calcium, a necessary mineral for strong bones.
4. Improves Sleep Quality
By exercising outdoors more, you help keep your circadian rhythm in sync with the day-and-night cycle. Having a healthy circadian rhythm is associated with deeper, sounder sleep.
Weatherproofing Your Outdoor Workout
Wait! Before you head outside to exercise, it’s essential to be weather-smart. Below are 5 safety tips for outdoor workouts:
- Check the forecast
- Check the UV Index
- Wear light, breathable clothing when it’s hot out
- Wear thick, long-sleeved clothing when it’s cold out
- Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workout
Staying Fit in Nature’s Playground
Outdoor workouts combine the health benefits of the great outdoors and fitness into one. So, find your nearest park with outdoor fitness equipment and get to movin’!
Sources
- Understanding Circadian Rhythms. National Sleep Foundation, 2020.
- Vitamin D: MedlinePlus. MedlinePlus (.gov), 2021.
Interested in what else nature has to offer for your health? See “Why Nature’s Good for You.”
