Written by: Emma Gheen
Editor’s Note: The following articles are written by counseling professionals from Counseling Services in partnership with the Southern Accent.
Hello, Southern! My name is Emma Gheen, and if you do not know this already, I am the new student director of the Activate Southern program. Today we’re going to be diving into how our brains are affected when we choose to workout outside.
Working out provides many proven benefits to the brain and the body, including increased focus, better memory, improved blood circulation and many other physical and mental benefits. But is it possible that the environment you workout in can affect the results that you are getting? It is possible.
An article published by the National Library of Medicine described a study that found improvement in cognitive function, specifically in the areas of “attention and working memory,” when comparing a 15-minute walk inside to a 15-minute walk outside. A simple walk outside was able to boost the participants’ brain function and help them do a task better.
Besides an increase in cognitive function, exercising outside makes people happier and boosts self-esteem. Working out outdoors may also take their focus off exercise for a while, since they may be more focused and engaged with their surroundings.
We all need vitamin D, which has been proven to prevent almost every disease when taken in a moderate amount. If you devote time to exercising outside, you will gain the benefits from taking your daily dose of vitamin D. Working out outside engages more of the senses, and from a Christian perspective, gives us a deeper connection with our Creator.
According to a post by Franklin County Public Health in Ohio, people burn approximately 10% more calories by walking or running outdoors when compared to people walking or running at the same speed indoors. Perhaps this is because it is important for our bodies to get fresh air. In volume 1 of her book Testimonies for the Church, Ellen G. White writes that “air is the free blessing of heaven, calculated to electrify the whole system.”
So how can we as Southern students get these benefits? We have many places on campus where we can enjoy being outdoors. The track outside of Hulsey is a great place to get a few minutes of walking and a lot of fresh air. The Biology Trails are another great place to explore, if you’re looking for somewhere to workout outside. Simply walking for 10 or 15 minutes across the Promenade is a quick way to give your body and mind some love and rejuvenation. Getting those few minutes of outdoor exercise can also be good for anyone taking a P.E. class, as we all have to track 150 minutes or more of exercise per week. I hope that these tips will encourage you to get out there and enjoy exercising outside! Your body and mind will appreciate it, and you’ll be getting tons of benefits!