Reducing Anxiety in the Great Outdoors
With the holidays approaching, the election results still being processed and COVID-19 lockdowns still (mostly) in place, to say that anxiety is in the air as we round out 2020 would be an understatement. I personally have felt more anxiety in the last week than I have in a very long time, and it seems like no matter how much I meditate, how many soundbaths I attend or how much I avoid the news/social media - I can't seem to shake this feeling. I feel like I haven’t taken a breath in days (even though I’ve been focusing on my breath awareness in meditation) and that feeling of anxiety in my chest has been building.
There are a lot of different ways to manage your anxiety. Some work for some people and don’t for others. Some may work for you most of the time, but when your anxiety is running full steam ahead, the usual remedies may not cut it. But the one thing that I have found pretty much always works for me is spending time in the great outdoors.
You probably already know and have experienced for yourself that spending time outside makes you feel just… better… but maybe you’re not sure why… or maybe you still need to be convinced. Here are 3 reasons why spending time outside is great for your mind, body and soul when it comes to managing your anxiety:
1. The visual beauty and colors of nature helps to calm your mind. The colors blue and green have been used for ages to help people who are feeling stressed… and blue and green are two of the main colors you can almost always be guaranteed to see when you’re outside. The green of the trees and the expansive blue sky can gently capture your attention and provide you with an environment that is calming, giving the part of your brain that feels stress a chance to relax. (Even if you’re in a desert landscape without much green foliage to look at, this still applies.)
2. Taking a step away from people helps you cope with stressful relationship and situations. No matter how much we love our friends, our family or our partners, sometimes we just need a break from people... from the people we spend most of our time with and the strangers at the grocery store or anywhere else in public that just seem to be full of negative energy… and outdoor activities can give you just that! Studies have shown that spending time in nature and getting out of our day-to-day circle reminds us that we are part of a much bigger world and takes us away from the need to constantly be interacting with others.
3. Finding success in outdoor challenges helps you feel confident and in control. Anxiety is often caused by a a sense that we lack control, whether in a particular circumstance, a relationship or over our emotions. When you’re hiking a new trail, riding your bike down a back country road or maybe even scaling a rock face, your brain is focusing on the task at hand rather than all of the little conflicts or stress factors you typically find yourself dwelling on. To top it off, when you’ve reached the finish line, you’ll have purged a lot of negative energy (physically and mentally) and have a sense of pride and confidence in the challenge you’ve just overcome. You’ll also sleep better after exerting all of that energy, which is one of the best remedies for good mental health. It’s really a win/win.
BONUS: Exercising outdoors boosts your immune system. No matter how concerned you are about COVID-19, you’ve probably experienced some level of stress about your health and the health of your loved ones over the last 6 months. We all know that exercise is good for us, but outdoor exercise is also great for boosting our immunity. The vitamin D from the sun, breathing the fresh air and the activation of our lymphatic system, which detoxifies the body and helps us fight off bacteria, viruses, and infections, all contribute to the boost our immune systems see when we get active outside.
I am so looking forward to spending time outside this weekend, and I highly recommend you do the same! Even if it’s just a walk through your neighborhood or a bike ride along the beach, a little can go a long way in these situations. Making the time to get outside regularly, whether to go camping, hiking or just to the beach is a great way to give your body and mind a reset, and release anxiety in the process.
Looking for something to do outside? If you’re in the LA area and want to join me for outdoor yoga, you can see all of my upcoming classes here.
xo,
Kelsey