Spending time outdoors can be very good for your mental and physical health. Unfortunately, however, most people’s lives are today spent indoors. This is partially due to the fact that few people work trades or crafts. Instead, they work on computers, sometimes remotely.
Rather than working with their hands outdoors, workers spend most of their time sitting down, typing away on keyboards, or answering phone calls.
If you work a job that restricts the amount of time you are able to spend outside, then this post is for you. Here are some activities that will help you to get out more (and appreciate nature):
Water Sports
Water sports are a highly effective way of exercising and developing a new appreciation for nature. Out of all water sports, kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddle boarding are by far the most popular. The main reason why these sports are so popular is that they can be performed independently, without an instructor’s help. Also, they are very easy to learn and cheap to get started with. However, it is important that you take swimming classes if you aren’t a confident swimmer before you attempt any water sports.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is a very fun outdoor activity, and a great way to experience all that nature has to offer. However, before you can go out and start climbing mountains and vertical rockfaces, you need to learn to climb safely. You can do this by signing up for classes at an indoor climbing facility. If you don’t know proper climbing techniques, then you are guaranteed to make mistakes. These mistakes could cost you your life if you are climbing a very high mountain, hill, or rockface. Rock climbing classes are cheap and widely available.
Trail Cycling
Trail cycling shouldn’t be confused with ordinary cycling. Ordinary cycling is when you pick up your bicycle and go out for a casual ride. Trail cycling is a lot more intense. It involves cycling trails carved out in hills, mountains, and forests. Along cycling trails, there tend to be obstacles, like jumps or large drops. Because of this, it is not recommended for amateur cyclists to attempt to ride on expert trails. Learn to ride a bicycle properly first, try out some amateur trails, and then you can start riding expert trails. You may also want to invest in a proper trail bicycle if you are going to start taking cycling seriously.
Going Hiking
Hiking is a great way of seeing the outdoors. The best thing about hiking is that other than a good pair of boots, you don’t need any equipment. You can go hiking more or less anywhere, too. It’s even possible to go ‘urban hiking’ which is just taking long-distance walks through cities and towns. That said, the best hikes are ones out in nature. So, if hiking appeals to you, then do some research and find out where the closest hiking trails are to you. Then, you can go out once or twice a week. The longer your hikes, the better it’ll be for your health.
Trying Jogging
Jogging is an activity that can be both fun and very good for you. However, it is important to make one thing very clear: If you are going jogging, then you need to invest in proper footwear. It’s unfortunately very common for people to wear inappropriate footwear when they go jogging, which causes serious damage to their heels and legs. Prolonged periods of jogging in improper footwear can lead to you developing health problems which could affect your ability to walk independently, later on in your life.
Martial Arts
As with water sports, there are too many different styles and types of martial arts to pinpoint a single one and recommend it. It should also be noted that martial arts won’t necessarily be a good way for you to experience nature. Most martial arts programs are taught in dojos, indoors. That said, martial arts are still a highly effective way of getting out of your house and getting in shape. An added bonus of martial arts is that by taking classes, you will learn about discipline and self-control, two qualities a lot of people lack today.
Trying Hunting
If hunting is legalized where you live, then why don’t you give it a go? Hunting isn’t an activity for everybody, so if it is something that you object to on moral grounds (or if it isn’t legal where you live) then skip to the next suggestion. Part of the reason that hunting is so fun is that it often takes place in nature, usually in forests. You can even go camping when you go on hunting trips, which can make it even more fun. Make sure you apply for a hunting permit if it’s necessary where you live.
Birdwatching
Birdwatching is a hobby that’s associated with older, rural people. However, it is still an activity that young city-dwellers can take up. You can find some very rare species of birds living in cities. There are also many other types of wildlife that you can find living in cities, like foxes, badgers, and even deer. The best way to take up wildlife spotting is to put down trail cameras in your backyard or areas of the city that you live in that you believe to be frequented by wildlife. Alternatively, you can buy binoculars and a camera, and go out into forests to look for birds and other animals.
Gardening
Gardening isn’t a particularly active activity. It is more something that’s done to relax than get fit. That said, it can be very good for your mental well-being and is therefore something that’s worth taking up. You don’t need a large garden to garden. To be honest, you don’t even need a garden! There are lots of indoor plants that you can grow from seed indoors, or on a balcony. Do some research about gardening and consider buying a few books before you start, so you have all of the knowledge that you need to do it successfully.
Getting outdoors can be good for you, so why not give it a go? There are lots of different activities that you can take up, as this post has shown. Some of them are good for your physical health, and others for your mental health.