Why You Should Get Daily Fresh Air Exercise | 7 Benefits

Guest Post written by Jaydee Vykoukal, physical therapist and owner of the websites healthmeanswealth.com and mombloglife.com.

Did you know that getting fresh air exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health?

Fresh air has a way of invigorating us and making us feel more alert. Our minds and bodies feel better when we get regular doses of fresh air.

This blog post will discuss the benefits of fresh air exercise and how you can get started today!

7 Benefits of Fresh Air Exercise

The many benefits of fresh air exercise make it worth your time to get outside and move.

Fresh air exercise can:

Boost your energy levels

There are many reasons that outdoor exercise can give you an energy boost.

Exercise has been shown to increase energy levels, and being in nature has been shown to decrease stress levels. When you combine the two, you get a recipe for increased energy.

Plus, the increased oxygen (from a purer source) to your brain and lungs can also boost your mental and physical energy.

Help you sleep better

We all know how important a good night’s sleep is for our health- particularly those of us practicing optimal health consciousness.

Fresh air exercise can help you sleep better by:

• Regulating your body temperature (which can be disturbed by indoor heating and cooling)
• Reducing stress levels (which can interfere with sleep)
• Increasing serotonin levels (a hormone that helps regulate sleep)
• Enhanced circadian rhythm (a natural sleep-wake cycle that’s regulated by light exposure)

All of these things work together to help you get a better night

Put in your best effort

It has been found that exercising outdoors tends to motivate people to put in their best effort. This is likely because being in nature has a way of making us feel good, and we want to keep that feeling going by working hard.

Plus, our perception of exertion changes, making pushing ourselves to new limits easier.

This is especially helpful for beginners that need that extra boost of inspiration.

Relieve stress and anxiety

Getting outside to exercise is a perfect time to disconnect from the fast-paced lives most of us live. Fresh air exercise can help clear your mind and reduce stress and anxiety.

When we’re stressed, our bodies produce the hormone cortisol.

Cortisol is the “stress hormone” because it helps our bodies respond to stress. While a little cortisol is good for us, too much can lead to health problems, such as:

• Weight gain
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Digestive problems
• Headaches
• Heart disease
• Sleep problems
• Memory and concentration problems

Improve your mood and sense of well-being

We all know how good exercise can make us feel.

Fresh air exercise takes it one step further. Exercise releases feel-good hormones like serotonin and oxytocin that help us feel good in our skin and make us feel more optimistic about the future.

Clean air, sunshine, and the scents of nature can further support these positive effects.

Reduced risk of chronic disease

Regular exercise reduces our risk of developing chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and Type II diabetes. Fresh air exercise has the added benefit of also reducing our exposure to harmful toxins and pollutants.

Get a dose of vitamin D

Vitamin D is important for our health for many reasons, including:

• Regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus
• Supporting the immune system
• Reducing inflammation
• Maintaining healthy bones, teeth, and muscles

We can get Vitamin D from food sources and supplements, but sunlight is the most natural way to get it. Fresh air exercise is a great opportunity to get a dose of Vitamin D while also getting some exercise.

Ways to Get Outside to Exercise

Now that we’ve gone over some of the benefits of fresh air exercise, you might be wondering how to get started. Here are a few ideas:

• Take a brisk walk in your neighborhood or local park
• Ride your bike on a nearby trail
• Go for a run or jog around a nearby lake
• Play a game of tennis at your local park
• Take your dog for an extra-long walk or run

While you may think of outdoor exercise in the summer, don’t forget that there are plenty of opportunities to get active outside in the winter, too (snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, etc.).

Additionally, when you choose between a forest (or park) or urban areas, you’ll benefit more from being in nature.

Should I Exercise Outside Alone or with Company?

You might wonder if exercising outside alone or with others is better. The answer is that it depends on what you’re looking for.

If you enjoy exercising with others, then, by all means, find a workout buddy or join a local sports team.

Or, if you have kids, you might find that bringing them along outside is a nice way to enjoy all the benefits of the outdoors together. 

If you prefer to exercise alone, that’s perfectly fine too. Some people find that they can get into a better flow when working out alone.

This is a great way to get some peace and quiet while also getting fresh air exercise (and all its great benefits).

Get Outside and Get Moving

Fresh air exercise is a great way to get some exercise and improve overall health. We hope this has inspired you to get outside and get moving!