Exercise outdoors is undoubtedly the best way to improve physical fitness, mood, and overall well-being. Engaging in outdoor sports not only benefits the body but also the mind, which benefits from being immersed in nature.

Activities such as walking or jogging in a forest or park are ideal as they allow the lungs to breathe in oxygen-rich air, rather than the polluted air of urban centers. In this article, we will explore the reasons why it is important to get used to moving outside of closed environments, especially in peaceful and green settings.

Outdoor Exercise is Worth It

- Improves Mood

- Fights Laziness

- Enhances Performance

- Controls Weight

- Increases Energy

- Boosts Vitamin D Production

Outdoor Exercise is Worth It

Although outdoor activity is essential for personal well-being, it is often neglected, and we do not fully understand the numerous benefits that contact with nature can offer. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is essential to dedicate some time to outdoor activities every day. Whether it's a simple walk or a more intense sport, what matters is the contact with nature, away from city stress, to recharge both the body and mind.

Improves Mood

A 2012 study confirms that exercising outdoors makes people 50% happier compared to those who exercise in a gym or indoors in general. Anxiety, depression, and sadness disappear as we immerse ourselves in nature.

According to color therapy, the green of nature has positive effects on our psyche by increasing serotonin levels and consequently promoting good mood. The color of tranquility, calm, and well-being, even a simple walk in natural environments can recharge us and give us a sense of peace and positivity.

In addition to the green (prevalent outdoor color), light, sounds, and scents actively contribute to reducing stress accumulated during the day and stimulate the entire body to perform at its best during physical activity.

Fights Laziness

One of the major obstacles to maintaining the healthy habit of exercising is laziness: after a day of work, it can be very difficult to motivate yourself to go out and exert yourself, but WHO guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. How to do it?

It seems that exercising outdoors is an excellent stimulus to maintain a commitment to exercise several times a week. It will no longer be a burden to face a workout; rather, it will become a real reward to go out and sweat in the open air!

Enhances Performance

Not only does the body and mind benefit from outdoor training, but performance in studying and work also improves significantly: attention and performance increase considerably to the point that children with ADHD can focus more easily after just 20 minutes of walking in a park.

In addition to concentration - thus mental and intellectual performance - outdoor training improves athletic performance. Thanks to a greater oxygen supply compared to indoor activities, the muscle oxygenation process improves, increasing strength and favoring better sports performance.

Controls Weight

The climatic variations and atmospheric agents encountered during outdoor training force our bodies to react constantly, making them more active and strong, burning more fats and eliminating toxins naturally.

The unpredictability also comes from the uneven terrain that forces our bodies to face constant unexpected challenges. This activates muscles that we risk neglecting through a monotonous and regular workout. Consequently, we have greater energy expenditure and a relative decrease in fat mass.

In young people, there is a clear correlation between those who spend more time outdoors and obesity: a 2008 study showed that the rates of overweight children who spend more time outdoors are 27 to 41% lower than children who spend more time indoors.

Increases Energy

20 minutes of outdoor activity is equivalent to a cup of coffee. When you feel low on energy, a run in the open air has the same invigorating effect as the drink, waking up our bodies and giving them vitality.

Boosts Vitamin D Production

Vitamin D has many important properties: it helps absorb calcium and phosphorus in the body, promoting osseous strengthening and joint health, assisting the nervous system, protecting the heart, strengthening the immune system, making the skin brighter, and preventing osteoporosis, especially as menopause approaches.

As shown by some studies, exposure to sunlight increases its production. Studies have shown that outdoor activity significantly increases the levels of this precious vitamin, which actively contributes to weight loss!

In conclusion, outdoor exercise is truly a panacea that involves the entire body 360 degrees.