With the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, and other modern gadgets, it seems people are spending less time outdoors these days than ever before. This is a shame, because getting outside is important for your health, mood, and overall well being. Studies have shown that people who participate in outdoor activities feel better than their homebody counterparts. Given all the benefits of being outside, this is hardly surprising. After all, vitamin D from sunlight can boost your immune system, while fresh air is proven to improve your mood.
With all this in mind, you should do what you can to spend more time outside. With so many excellent outdoor activities available, this shouldn’t be hard to do. Here are four options you should consider as you look to get out in the fresh air.
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Daily Nature Walks
The best way to increase your average weekly time outdoors is simply to take a daily walk through nature. This is an easy, low-intensity activity that anyone can take part in. It allows you to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature while getting some exercise. If you live in a rural area, finding trails should be easy. If you’re a city-dweller, then you might have to settle for wooded parks. All the same, the important thing is just to get outside.
Hiking Expeditions
While short walks represent a great daily habit, longer hiking trips provide a more intense interaction with nature. Weekends and holidays provide excellent opportunities to leave human society behind and immerse yourself in your natural environment. There are trails available in all sorts of locations, from mountains to deserts and everything in between. Once you become a hiking enthusiast, you can even base your travel plans on accessing exciting trails in unfamiliar terrains. Just make sure you always pack everything you could need and prioritize safety while out on the trails.
Camping Trips
If spending your days outdoors isn’t enough, then you could plan to sleep outside as well. Something about sleeping under the stars creates even more intimate bonds with the natural world. The chirping of the evening crickets serves as the perfect lullaby, while waking up during the dewey dawn gives you an incredible look at the starting of a brand new day. There are all sorts of camping, each with its own conveniences and splendors. By taking a camper to a well-developed site, you can experience nature without giving up some of the central comforts of home. Alternatively, you could hit the trails and go “backpacking,” enjoying the special connection derived from spending the night in a truly remote corner of the world.
Saltwater Fishing Charters
There’s nothing as satisfying as wrestling with a component of the natural world and coming out on top. For as long as humans have been around, we’ve had to carve out an existence by taking what we can from our environment. When you go fishing, you get to experience this eternal struggle first hand. Saltwater fishing charters are perhaps the most exciting version of sportfishing, and you’ll have the thrill of landing hard-fighting and delicious species. While you could always go fishing on your own, hiring a charter greatly increases your chances of success. Charter captains know the local waters like the backs of their hands, and they’ll do what it takes to get a fish on the end of your line.
One of the simplest things you can do to improve your overall well being is spend more time outside. Consider these activties as you endeavor to enjoy the great outdoors.