10/06/2026
GET OUTSIDE 💚
1. Reduce Your Stress Levels
Going for a walk is one of the best ways of reducing stress levels. Rhythmic exercise has a calming effect and the physiological effects of walking, reducing blood pressure and increasing heart rate, also help to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Walking is always beneficial, but being by water has been shown to be especially soothing, so try a walk near the sea or by a beautiful river or lake.
Why is reducing stress so important? Apart from the beneficial effect on feelings of well-being, stress has been shown to increase blood sugar and to increase the risk of heart disease. Being stressed also increases the risk of obesity, with all its associated problems.
For many of us, stress is unavoidable, so it is important to have some down-time to rebalance life and build time for a quiet reflective walk into our routines.
2. Feel Better About Yourself
Getting outdoors and exercising improves self-esteem and body image. One study asked people to exercise whilst looking at different environments, and found that looking at pleasant nature scenes improved self-esteem more than looking at urban scenes.
At all ages, people who adventure outside have been found to have higher levels of self-esteem and feel that they can cope better with the stresses of modern life.
3. Improve Your Concentration and Focus
In our busy lives, being bombarded by information and distracting demands for our attention means that we are finding it more difficult to focus for a long time and we become fatigued with prolonged concentration. Research has shown that looking at nature improves our ability to restore concentration so that we can focus for longer, and family time spent outdoors might help children to do better at school!
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