The many benefits of getting outside

What does the outdoors mean to us?

Although learning to interact with the outdoors was once an essential skill, in the twenty-first century we typically distance ourselves from it with our technologies. Research supported by the Mental Health Foundation shows that building a strong connection to the outdoors is key to a person’s wellbeing. However, to see these health benefits we need to learn to interact with the outdoors and our environment in different ways. We now look to the outdoors for fitness, mental stimulation and relaxation. On this page, you will find some reasons to get out and interact with the outdoors.

In the early 1800s, there was a massive population boom in cities across the UK that was recognised and commented on by the 1833 Public Health select committee. They concluded that access to outdoor spaces ‘would not only promote the health and morality of the people, but be beneficial to the mere wealth of the country’ (cc1049-59, n.d.). This committee and its findings paved the way for public parks to be included in city planning and arguably led to the establishment of the National Trust & Parks authorities. More modern day studies (for instance, Thompson, et al (2012); Fisher, et al (2009); and Haskell (2007)) all corroborate the findings of the 1833 committee and attest to the profoundly positive health benefits that result from physical activity in the outdoors.

On the other hand, studies have shown strong evidence of negative health impacts when exposure to the outdoors is reduced. Take, for example, the COVID pandemic. Sarah Rodgers from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has raised concerns about the lack of access to blue and green spaces for some people during lockdown and the impacts this has had on mental health and wellbeing. Furthermore, the end of lockdown has brought with it a new appreciation for the outdoors, as can be seen in the growing numbers that have visited outdoor spaces regularly ever since. In the UK, we can clearly see a renewed desire to explore the outdoors.

How does adventure sports help?

Adventure (or ‘extreme’) sports is a form of physical activity that may have a higher level of risk for those participating. Examples include climbing, hill & mountain walking, kayaking, canoeing and more. These sports require both physical capabilities and mental concentration (for more information, visit dailyadrenaline.org).

Throughout history, various organisations have used the outdoors to rehabilitate, develop and educate people. A great example is Dr Kurt Hahn, who set up Gordonstoun School 1934. Hahn’s curriculum was based around out-of-classroom learning experiences and was a major success with young students. Research studies undertaken since Hahn’s school was established have since recognised that outdoor activities are an excellent way to train & develop various skills - whether this is group bonding (Tuckman, 1965), meta skills (Priest & Gass, 2005) or the learning cycle (Kolb, 1984). Consequently, many corporate bodies now spend significant time and money sending their staff away to enjoy outdoor activities, that specifically encourage these areas of development.

Whenever we engage with an adventure sport, we experience a mix of physical and emotional responses. The benefits will change as you and your abilities grow. These sports can also effect and be affected by what is going on in your life at that moment. You can experience changes in your;

  • Physical abilities and associated fitness

  • Mental focus and resilience

  • Attitude towards learning future skills

  • Social interaction and self-awareness

  • Self-belief

  • Stress relief

  • Ability to cope with mental health issues, including both depression and addiction

The best news is that you do not have to be an athlete to see or feel the health benefits that outdoor activities bring. Everyone can choose their own level of engagement. The outdoors is for everyone, it does not discriminate!

Where does this leave you?

The benefits of the outdoors are numerous and totally personal to you.

While these benefits are not linear and will change over time, they are achievable to everyone who gets involved with outdoor activities in any capacity. Your chosen sport could simply be a life enriching experience, something enjoyable to do in your spare time, or it could positively turn your life upside down and lead to opportunities you can’t yet imagine.

Here at Essential Climbing, I can teach you how to climb, but I am also giving you an opportunity to access all the benefits outlined above. Not only can these skills let you enjoy climbing in the outdoors safely, they also give you transferable skills that can enrich other areas of your life.

References

Websites

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/research/nature-how-connecting-nature-benefits-our-mental-health#:~:text=Spending%20time%20in%20nature%20is,positive%20impact%20on%20our%20wellbeing.

Public Health Committee; https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1833/feb/21/public-health#column_1055

Gov 2021; https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/articles/howhaslockdownchangedourrelationshipwithnature/2021-04-26

Sarah Rogers; https://www.nihr.ac.uk/blog/what-is-the-value-in-local-outdoor-space-for-our-mental-health-and-wellbeing/25019?fbclid=IwAR0ioMiOVTxuE6F0_P342qn41tDhqxEFDk8_S8PxgGNqBRHtTSrhXznx0-c

http://dailyadrenaline.org/benefits-of-extreme-sports/

Books, articles & research

Baden-Powell, R., & Boehmer, E. (2004). Scouting for boys : a handbook for instruction in good citizenship / Robert Baden-Powell ; edited with an introduction and notes by Elleke Boehmer. Oxford

Ward Thompson, C., Roe, J., Aspinall, P., Mitchell, R., Clow, A., & Miller, D. (2012). More green space is linked to less stress in deprived communities: Evidence from salivary cortisol patterns. Landscape and Urban Planning, 105(3), 221-229.

Haskell, W. L., Lee, I. M., Pate, R. R., Powell, K. E., Blair, S. N., Franklin, B. A., ... & Bauman, A. (2007). Physical activity and public health: updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Circulation, 116(9), 1081.

Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development (Vol. 1). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Priest, S., & Gass, M. A. (2005). Effective leadership in adventure programming / Simon Priest and Michael A. Gass. Champaign, Ill. ; Leeds : Human Kinetics, 2005.. (pg. 13)

Fisher, C. E. (2009). Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Bolton Landing, NY: U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station Newtown Square, PA.

Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological bulletin, 63(6), 384.