Getting Outdoors Can Improve Mental Health: Here’s How

There’s just something about being in a place where it feels like no rules apply. I truly love the isolated and rugged beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. I love that its tree shapes grow with the wind instead of standing perfectly straight. The smell of the earth and succulent plant life has endeared itself to me. As I breathed it in, I could feel my body relax, even while on a strenuous hike. The sun beams warmed me and calmed my mind in a way that city/concrete dwelling cannot. Even now, back in Los Angeles, I think of that feeling and my body instantly releases from tension.

A friend of mine and I made the road trip to Joshua Tree because we both were feeling a bit frazzled and anxious. With the excitement of city life, comes the go-go-go mentality too. It can be an energy zapper and at times, unhealthy. In light of recent events with school shootings and the discussion on mental health and how detrimental it can be if ignored or unchecked, I look to healthy ways of supporting myself emotionally by taking mini breaks from reality and one of those is getting outdoors.

Here’s how it can help:

1. It makes us feel alive. Research suggests that being outside in nature for just 20 minutes can significantly boost our vitality levels. It is refreshing and can give you a sense of adventure that you do get in your everyday life. That is something to look forward to.
2. It Declutters your mind. When you’re out there in a rugged terrain, the last thing you want to do is have your head in your phone. You could lose your footing and fall, get lost in the wilderness, or just miss the beauty around you. It takes you out of the social media atmosphere and allows you to truly focus on what’s in front of you. You regain your focus and can truly be at one with yourself without worldly interruptions.
3. It Increases Exercise. I’m a personal trainer and even for me, sometimes going into a gym settingisn’t always inspiring. Getting your body moving in different ways and in various settings can be key to beating exercise boredom. Getting outdoors can give you that adrenaline rush that our sometimes sad moods need. Vitamin D aka pure sunlight also helps boost our feelings.

I hope if you are ever in the American West, you’ll visit one of our beautiful national parks, Joshua Tree, Zion, Yosemite, etc. In the meantime, What is Your next outdoor plan? Cheers to adventurous weekends away from city life!

XOXO,Natasha