Take a moment to think of your favorite outdoor memory. Maybe you were taking a quiet walk in your neighborhood, camping in the mountains, casting a line into one of Wyoming’s world-class rivers, or tending to your garden at home.  As you think back on that memory, what do you notice? What feelings surface? Did you feel calm, excited, connected, happy, grounded? Take a moment to sit with that memory; chances are, the benefits of the outdoors were already at work!  

Time spent outdoors offers many powerful benefits. Research shows that spending just two hours per week outside, no matter how you do it, can significantly improve overall health and well-being. Outdoor time has been linked to reduced stress and muscle tension, stimulates physical activity, lower blood pressure, improved heart health, promotes better sleep quality, and increased vitamin D levels. 

The benefits of the outdoors also extend beyond physical health. Being outside can help reduce anxiety and symptoms of depression, improve concentration, and boost overall mood. It also creates opportunities for connection with nature, with family and friends, and with our communities. 

So how do you reap all of these benefits of being outside? Whether you already spend plenty of time outdoors or prefer the comfort of indoors, the outdoors truly is for everyone. Here are a few tips to help you spend more time outside: 

• Start small. Aim for 10–15 minutes of intentional outdoor time each day. Take a short walk after dinner or enjoy your morning coffee outside. 

• Explore somewhere new. Many communities offer incredible parks, trails, and open spaces. Visit a place you haven’t been to before. 

• Find an outdoor hobby you enjoy: Explore activities that help you connect with nature and bring you joy.
  
  

Looking for other ideas? Consider trying: 

• Walking 

• Nature journaling 

• Taking a scenic drive with the windows down 

• Gardening 

• Stargazing 

• Reading outdoors 

• Hosting a picnic 

• Hiking 

• Biking 

• Getting creative outside

   

No matter how you choose to spend your time, stepping outside is a small action that can make a meaningful difference. This season, challenge yourself to get outside more; your mind and body will thank you. 

Sources 

• https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/3-ways-getting-outside-into-nature-helps-improve-your-health/2023/05 

• https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/7-health-benefits-spending-time-nature 

• https://recreationroundtable.org/priorities/health-and-outdoor-recreation/