Why is the great outdoors so good for us?

Who doesn’t feel better after spending time outdoors on a nice, sunny day?
It is clear that being outdoors can have various benefits for people. These include physical, mental and emotional benefits.

Ecopsychology is a new field of research based on the idea that spending time outside can have positive psychological effects. Studies have shown that time spent outside reduces stress hormones, improves immune function, and reduces anxiety. Just 20 minutes outdoors can lower stress levels.

However, for maximum benefit, you should try to spend at least two hours a week in nature. This can be small daily chunks, or longer outdoor activities once or twice a week.

By reducing stress, you can lower your risk of heart attacks, strokes and diabetes.

Many of us will have felt less stressed after spending time in nature, but why is this the case? Exposure to the outdoors is thought to reduce stress because of its calm and pleasant aesthetic qualities, which stimulate a stress-reducing response in the body.

Being outside can also reduce the burden caused by mental health issues.

According to a study, 82% of people said that they believed spending time outdoors had positive impacts on their mental health.

According to a 2019 study of bushfire victims, those who felt more connected to the natural environment had lower rates of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Simply being outside also leads to greater social interactions and social cohesion. This is because people usually participate in outdoor activities in groups.

Spending time outdoors encourages children’s healthy development.

For example, it can enhance the development of their gross and fine motor skills. It can also help them develop positive behaviours and skills such as creativity, cognitive thinking, problem-solving, and risk-taking.

Spending time outdoors has also been shown to reduce the risk of attention deficit disorder in children. Playing outside with their friends can also help children develop their social skills.

In addition, playing outdoors is good for children’s health. It can help build their muscles and reduce their risk of obesity.

Spending more time outside has been shown to encourage increased physical activity across all age groups.

Exercising outdoors can be particularly beneficial for those suffering from mental health conditions.
This is particularly important for older people. Maintaining an active lifestyle can be difficult as you age. Therefore, anything that can increase the physical activity of older people has significant positive implications for health outcomes. The outdoors can help older people maintain and enhance their quality of life.
Being outside increases our exposure to sunlight. Sunlight provides a vital source of Vitamin D, which is essential for maintaining muscle and bone strength.

But why is spending time outdoors good for us?

Attention Restoration Theory is based on the idea that natural settings restore our attention. We can only focus our minds for a certain amount of time before we become fatigued and lose attention. Natural environments therefore provide a reset from mundane everyday activities. This provides the opportunity for our focus to recover, in what is known as “the restorative effect”.
While many people recognise the benefits of being outside, studies have shown that many people recognise they aren’t spending enough time outdoors.
People live increasingly busy lives, so it isn’t always easy to incorporate outdoor activities into your daily life, especially if you don’t live near parks or gardens. Making use of your own backyard is a quick, easy and convenient way to incorporate more outdoor activities into your life. The good news is that a quality shade sail can allow you to work, study, play, socialise, exercise or eat outside your own home. This makes it that much easier to spend quality time outside.
With so many benefits, anything that encourages people to spend more time outdoors, should be encouraged.

Article References

1. Bhullar, N (21 January 2022) ‘Time in nature is good for our mental health: but what about artificial nature?’, ABC News Australia, accessed 18 July 2024
2. Parks Victoria (2022) ‘Balance of nature: How spending time outdoors can change your life for the better’, Parks Victoria, accessed 18 July 2024.
3. Psychology Today Australia (2024) Does The Outdoors Really Have Healing Powers?, Psychology Today Australia, accessed 18 July 2024.
4. Psychology Today Australia (2024) How Outdoor Activities Build Resilience In Children, Psychology Today Australia, accessed 19 July 2024.