Outdoors

The natural world can provide a haven for you to clear your thoughts and meditate, as you are surrounded by the peaceful ambience of your environment. Whether you're visiting the beach or spending time hiking through a mountain path, these free and available open spaces are here for you to find time for silence away from your busy, day-to-day life.

Alleviate Stress

Spending time outdoors offers an opportunity to relieve stress. Stress can be caused by one's environment as well as the events that take place. Getting a breath of fresh air is not only beneficial for the physical health, studies show that being outdoors can boost your serotonin levels, thereby improving your mood. When you feel like you're overwhelmed by your daily life, try scheduling at least a couple of hours to meditate outdoors, and allow the sounds of the natural world to help you level down and minimize stress.

Hiking

Hiking offers numerous health benefits. In addition to spending time outdoors and enjoying the fresh, open air, it's beneficial to your overall quality of life. Whether you're taking a walk through the mountains or visiting your local park, you're making an active decision to improve your well-being. Hiking will help you get your heart rate up, especially if you're striving to lose weight or at least maintain a healthy weight. Your stress levels are sure to go down after finishing your walk. Also, evidence shows that the physical activity itself helps to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Visiting a Beach

Beaches are incredibly popular places to soak up the sun and spend time with family and friends. Just lying in the sand under the sunshine and listening to the waves splashing can provide calming effects. It's the perfect place to meditate, particularly if you're visiting the beach during quiet hours, like early in the morning when the sun is rising or late evening. If you experience anxiety, the beach can be the perfect place to reduce any anxious or stressful feelings.

If you're looking to exercise at the beach, you're in luck. There is plenty of open space to jog or walk along the shore. You can swim, of course in the safe, protected areas, such as between the red and yellow flags. It's always a good idea to go swimming when a life guard is on duty. Other sporting activities at the beach, like surfing and jet skiing, are beneficial for people who are experienced in these types of sports.

Visiting a Lake

If you considering visiting a lake, you'll be glad to know that there are plenty of things that you can do to enjoy exercise and reduce your stress levels. Lakes offer plenty of opportunities to take part in water sports, including fishing, paddling, and kayaking. Depending on the location of the lake, you may get a chance to enjoy swimming. Similar to the beach, you can relax, have a picnic, and absorb Vitamin D from the sun, which is helpful in reducing anxiety and stress.

Just Being Outdoors

If all else fails, just spending at least 20 minutes outdoors anywhere, like your backyard, can do wonders for your mental and physical health. Many studies indicate that just being outside, especially in a green space, can improve your quality of life and minimize the risks of getting certain chronic diseases. The next time you go outside your home, find a small open space to practice yoga or even engage in more intense activities, like aerobics or playing a sports game with friends or family members. This is a great way to lower your blood pressure and increase your overall mood.