Why Do You Feel So Much Better When You’re Outside?
It’s not uncommon to feel that your mind and body benefit just from being outside. In fact, things like genuinely hugging trees can increase dopamine levels.
Many Fort Collins residents take advantage of the plethora of outdoor activities that our city has to offer. This is hugely because of our primal thirst for fresh air and nature. Living in the city, you are surrounded by cars, buildings, streets, all sorts of man-made infrastructure. But when you head out into our parks (Horsetooth, Lory State Park) you escape the urbanism and find yourself lost in something much bigger than yourself, and it feels great!
What is it about the outdoors that has this affect on us? The benefits that are (almost immediately) enacted on somebody who is spending time outside can be attributed to several things. The cleaner air, the feeling of openness, or, just a good ol’ change of scenery. Everyone is different, so we are all impacted differently by, say, going on a hike or going for a swim at the lake. Nevertheless, there is a strong sense of connection and belonging that one can achieve by spending even just an hour outside, away from everyday life.
Taking time to hike or fish with a friend, as I do with my friends Jack and Moe, can be extremely decompressing!
“I love fishing man, I think I’m addicted to being out here. This sh*t is my hobby.” Jack told me on Memorial Day, as we were sitting out at Party Cove after a long morning climbing Arthur’s Rock.
It is impossible to classify and/or quantify the benefits of the wilderness on the human mind, yet, my theory is that the more stressed out, busy you are, the more you need to get outside, just to keep your head on straight. There’s nothing wrong with working indoors in the city all week, but we must balance it out with time outdoors or we are simply wasting time.
The idea that cortisol (stress) levels can lead to several health problems has been gaining more and more awareness. Without a solution, however, this awareness can just lead to higher cortisol levels! The solution, of course, is spending time outside. According to a study done by the United States Department of Agriculture, time outdoors can reduce cortisol levels, muscle tension and heart rates — all of which have been known to cause cardiovascular disease.
Aside from the physical, the positive affects that time outdoors have on mental health are tremendous. In fact, spending time outdoors has been linked to helping anxiety levels, as well ass mild to moderate depression. Many of us living in Colorado are familiar with Season Affective Disorder (SAD) and fresh air and natural light has also been proved to be helpful in fighting against that!
Long story short, time outdoors in nature is a wonderful way to boost your mood, and lower your cortisol levels. Spending time in the wilderness, especially this time of year, can have instant and lasting effects on your mindset! So what are you waiting for? Get out there!
As Jimmy Buffet so powerfully stated, changed in latitudes = changes in attitudes.
