Why you should GTFO
Get the f**k outside, that is.
In this edition of Momentum you’ll learn why you should spend more time outdoors exercising and how time in nature can improve your health.
I don't know about you but when I'm at the beach or deep in the woods I just feel better.
Research is showing more and more how nature benefits us physically and mentally.
This evidence is so apparent doctors are now prescribing time in nature.
Now, as far as exercising outdoors goes there is probably zero difference, from a performance perspective, whether or not you deadlift inside the gym or bring your barbell out to the parking lot.
That's not the kind of outdoor exercise I'm talking about.
I'm talking about running, hiking, biking, cross country skiing, or whatever out in nature.
Here are 5 reasons why you may want to include some outdoor exercise into your program.
1) Exposing yourself to less predictable environments
Riding an indoor exercise bike or running on a treadmill can certainly provide you with a cardiovascular workout. Riding your bike outdoors or running on a trail, however, provides a more dynamic workout. While riding outside you encounter hills, terrains that are harder to pedal through, or obstacles that need navigating. The same goes for running outside or on trails. For fitness, the indoor option is absolutely fine. If your goal is to get better at running outdoors or biking outdoors then you have to practice in the environment you want to improve in.
2) Take advantage of the psychological benefits of being in nature
Research has demonstrated that time spent in nature and feeling connected to nature improve several aspects of mental health including cognition and attention, depression, and anxiety. May as well kill two birds with one stone and work on your mental and physical health at once! Read more here.
3) Forced time away from technology
When I workout indoors I do the same thing as everyone else. I text in between sets or I watch TV while on the treadmill. When I'm outdoors hiking or riding my bike on trails I actually forget I even have a phone for a few minutes. I have found that for myself less screen time = better Nick.
4) Practice mindfulness
As of late I have been trying more and more to be present and not always distracted, planning, or reliving through technology. When I am riding my bike through the woods or hiking up a mountain I have to be mindful not to trip on a root or crash into a tree and ruin all the hard work my orthodontist did in middle school. Research has shown that nature based mindfulness, whether informal or formal, produced better results than mindfulness techniques practiced in built environments.
5) Get out and see the damn world
This is subjective... but I find the natural world to be much more beautiful than the man made one. So, for me, getting out and seeing parks and mountains and green is just nice. I like it. You may not, and that's okay. But I think if you tried it... you would.
Now, put your phone down and GTFO.