When winter finally ends and the sun starts to shine, the birds start to chirp, and the weather starts to warm, many people rejoice at the chance to get back outside and be more active. But, without a few new ideas for having fun and being active outside, you may fall back into your routine of coming home from work, kicking off your shoes, and binge watching a show.
Here are three creative, fun ways to be active this spring so you can improve your overall wellness and feel better than you have for some time.
1. Go Camping
Camping is one of the most fun activities you can do in spring. Whether you take your dog with you or go with a large group of friends, you will enjoy the peaceful serenity of spending time outdoors. The great thing about camping is that you get to choose how primitively you do it. If you think it is more fun to backpack into a remote area and carry everything you need on your back, go for it. Living off the grid is a great way to decompress and escape from the pressures and responsibilities of home and work. Or, you can rent a cabin in the woods and still enjoy being in nature while having a few of the comforts of home.
Camping also provides ample opportunity for exercise. You can backpack in the mountains, explore hiking trails, go kayaking or canoeing, or go swimming. The more you explore, the more exercise you will get and the more mental health benefits you will get from being in nature and away from the grind of daily life.
2. Fly a Kite
Flying a kite is one of those childhood activities that brings pleasure to adults and probably will be easier than you remember it being as a kid. While you may not get a hardcore workout from flying a kite, you will benefit physically and mentally from doing so. You will get some exercise as you run to get your kite in the air and walk to keep it flying high in the air.
You also will experience some mental health benefits from flying a kite simply by being in nature and watching the kite fly and soar. You will focus on the kite to keep it aloft, which will help you become more mindful and less stressed. Research shows that people who increase their mindfulness and focus on their overall health, rather than treating one symptom or one problem, heal faster and stay healthier.
No matter your health challenges – whether it is chronic stress, addiction, or chronic pain – when you fly a kite you’ll relax, become less anxious, relieve your pain, and feel better overall. You’ll also soak in nature and watch the clouds and the sky, which help restore positive emotions and improve your mood.
3. Fire Up the Grill
Weather improvements also lead to health improvements when you take advantage of spring and fire up your grill. When you grill your food, you consume less fat because the drippings fall away from your food rather than being reabsorbed as they are when you roast meat in the oven or cook it on top of the stove. Grilling vegetables also is a healthier alternative to otherwise cooking them because they retain more vitamins and minerals when you grill them. Similarly, fresh vegetables have not been stored in high-sodium solutions, so grilling fresh vegetables is much more nutritious than eating canned vegetables.
Many people also grill when they are engaging in other outdoor activities such as family picnics at a swimming pool or camping trips. When you cook and eat outdoors, you naturally tend to spend more time being active outside, so fire up the grill, dust off the Frisbee, and enjoy the benefits of spending your evenings and weekends outside.
You can spend more time being active outdoors this spring if you go camping, fly a kite, and fire up the grill. Your mental and physical health will improve when you engage in fun activities outdoors, and your improved mood will match the improved weather.
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