Escaping the four walls
Spending time outside is neglected by so many of us. I can honestly say that I haven’t spent enough time in the open air for a long time. The weather has definitely put me off, but can that be an excuse. Having just spent 2 days in the Cotswolds over Easter I can realise the health benefits of escaping the 4 walls at home and work.
Stress, anxiety, and depression have been shown to worsen when you stay inside too much and the opposite to be true by getting out into the open air and countryside. Going for a daily walk could help you destress, get physically active and connect with your natural environment. Often poor mental health creeps up on you. You do not realise that the actions you take day to day are impacting you negatively.
We walked a lot while we were away and it got us talking more, off our phones and enjoying the adventure. Not to mention the whiskey distillery. I spend way too much time on my phone, and this highlighted that I should put it down and see more of the Essex countryside. Who knows there might be a distillery nearby.
If you can’t walk far, you could try cycling. If that’s not possible, drive to your favourite spot, find a bench and take in the views. Maintaining your health is not sexy and doesn’t sell. All you see is ways to maximise your health with tablets, supplements, superfoods. It’s normally a pipe dream and nothing can accelerate your health by skipping some of the fundamentals. I can see that being outdoors regularly is one of those that will help you maintain a healthy mind and body.
Don’t take my word for it. As the better weather comes, go out each day for 20 minutes away from the cars, the buildings, and the noise of life. If you do find any interesting places to visit let me know.
Thanks for reading
Written by
Dave Adkins
Chartered Physiotherapist
