How Being Outside is a Secret Wellness Tool

Remember what it was like in 2019, when you could catch an Uber to a crowded restaurant with friends or take public transit to your busy workplace? It was only months ago, but a lot has changed in that time, hasn't it?

Covid-19 has changed life for a lot of people, perhaps for the long-term, and there’s been a lot of conversation about how to adjust to that.

Now, a lot of conversation focuses on the things we can't do anymore: the gatherings with friends, the busy workplaces, the sporting events, and the concerts. We miss them, too, but there's one thing still available to all of us that doesn't get talked about nearly enough.

It's the outdoors.

We're not trying to be all weirdly Pollyanna about the situation. There's a dangerous virus and a lot of unnecessary suffering out there, and there's just no way to put a true, honest, good spin on that. We’re not even going to try.

But, we are all about getting to Myrth, that place where you can say that even if the things happening around you are not great, you are able to move forward and work toward a place where you are okay. With that spirit in mind, we want to encourage you to get outside and enjoy nature and use it as a wellness tool.

It doesn't have to be total isolation in the wilderness. It can just be a walk around your neighborhood or some stretching in your local park. The movement, the fresh air, and the sunshine are all important ingredients to help you get to a place of Myrth.

Getting Outside is Better for Preventing Virus Spread

There is also some data starting to show that you’re less likely to contract or spread the virus outdoors. That’s because the virus spreads through droplets in the air produced when you talk, cough, and sneeze. When you’re outdoors, the air circulation and distance between people help prevent us all from inhaling each others’ droplets.

This means that even if there are other people outside, you are still probably okay if you're all moving and don't sit right next to each other breathing the same air for an extended period of time. That's important news, because we can still move about and enjoy the world, and don't have to stay at home inside forever.

Getting Outside is Good for Your Mental Health

It’s also important to get outside because we know the pandemic is having mental health effects.

Whether you are feeling increased stress from worrying about yourself or loved ones, or because your work situation is precarious, or because the constant flood of news is just a lot for you to take in, you're not alone. 

Our usual outlets for dealing with mental health needs are hindered by the virus. We can't together with friends, we can't go to the places that make us happy, and many of us can't even seek spiritual comfort in our houses of worship. 

But we can still go outside, and there is a lot of data showing that just being outside helps your mental health. It's a crucial tool that we need to take advantage of during times when the other tools in our mental health toolbox might not be so readily available.

If you haven’t been outside yet today, now’s the time. Set down your phone, step away from your computer screen, put on some shoes, and walk out the door. It doesn’t have to be a long time. You don’t have to go far.

Just go.

Have you made it a habit to get outside each day? What other wellness tools do you use? How has that affected you? Leave us a note in the comment section.

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