Outdoor hobbies are more than just activities you enjoy outside of the house. Recently, there has been a lot of research discussing how outdoor activities benefit people in regard to their mental and physical health. These benefits arise from a combination of physical activity, being in nature, social interactions, and emotional replenishment. Hobbies such as fishing, golfing, taking walks, and hiking can bring out these benefits in people, and they can really make a difference in your well being.
According to Kirsten Weir, a writer for APA.org, 41% of Americans report being online constantly, and people need to step away from their screens and be a part of nature. Being in nature gives you a lot of cognitive benefits, such as improvements in memory, mental flexibility, and controlling your attention. Even relatively brief encounters with nature can sharpen your focus. A study posted in the Journal of Environmental Psychology stated how people who stared at a flowering green roof for 40 seconds had much better memory than those who looked at concrete. “There is mounting evidence, from dozens and dozens of researchers, that nature has benefits for both physical and psychological human well-being,” explains Lisa Nisbet, a psychologist at Trent University. “You can boost your mood just by walking in nature, even in urban nature. And the sense of connection you have with the natural world seems to contribute to happiness even when you’re not physically immersed in nature.” If you seem to feel like your cognitive abilities are on the decline, and you spend too much time doomscrolling, taking a simple walk every day can help you gain your cognitive abilities back.
While these cognitive abilities are great to have, being outdoors can also increase your happiness, help you be more positive, and help you get a sense of meaning and purpose in life. These benefits aren’t just momentary benefits; a study in Denmark by Kristine Engemann, a writer for PNAS.org, found that people who grew up around greener spaces had a drastically lower risk of psychological disorders later in their lives. Being out in nature can also make us kinder to others. Studies show that people exposed to nature documentaries show more cooperative behavior and make better decisions than those who don’t watch the documentaries. After elementary school students went on a nature trip, they showed better social behaviors with their classmates compared to after a museum trip. One of the great parts about all these benefits is that you can just go outside and do something to obtain them. There are so many hobbies that you can find joy in while being outdoors. For example, Florida is one of the best places in the world to fish and to golf, which are both outdoor activities where you are in nature for hours at a time. Being in Florida also gives us the opportunity to go to the Everglades and also to go to the beach. Being in Florida has plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and improve your well-being.
Furthermore, you do not need to spend all day every day outside to feel better. Mathew White, a writer for nature.com and a professor at the University of Exeter Medical School, did research that found people who spend 2 hours a week report significantly greater health and well-being than those who do not. You can get these 2 hours from taking six 20 minute walks spread throughout the week, or from playing 9 holes of golf with your friends on the weekend. While the research states that two hours are important, overall, people who spend time outside say, “People who feel that their self-concept is intertwined with nature report being a bit happier.” (Zelenski). This connection to the natural world can help people cope with loneliness, as a study shows how lonely people report being much happier than their equally lonely counterparts who do not have proper access to nature.
There is something powerful about being in nature sometimes. Watching waves crash, standing at the top of a trail you hiked, or watching a huge waterfall, are just some moments that have left me in awe. It is surreal to see something so big and it makes you feel so small, and it is one of the most incredible parts about nature and how it affects your well being. Researchers suggest that these experiences that make you feel small, actually trigger a shift in your perspective. Being able to see something that is much bigger than yourself actually makes you see beyond yourself and look past your immediate concerns and pay more attention to big picture things. Also when being in these moments of awe, people are reported to be more prosocial and avoid self-centered topics. People are more compassionate and more cooperative when in these specific moments. Some outdoor hobbies that give you these experiences are stargazing, scuba diving, hiking to summits, and animal watching. All of these experiences give you opportunities to reflect on yourself in a way you cannot do when on your phone or playing video games on your computer. In moments of awe like this, you aren’t necessarily improving your overall cognitive functions or emotions, you are reflecting on yourself and big ideas of thought, which allows you to improve yourself.
These implications are very clear since they state that outdoor hobbies aren’t optional extra things to do in life, they are more necessary for humans to flourish. People can pursue their passions outdoors, doing whatever they want, and they can gain many benefits regarding their well being at the same time. One of the biggest challenges is due to being in areas with limited access to nature, like a busy city, but, since we live in West Boca, we have an abundance of areas to explore in nature, and I hope to have persuaded some of you guys to go outside a little bit more. From cognitive function to improved emotions and self-reflections, outdoor hobbies are a must-have in your daily life.
Works cited:
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0013916512451901
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1807504116
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3
