There are two things you should guard against when you are in recovery: isolation and boredom. Including new activities in your recovery that help you enjoy life without substances is a crucial part of healing. Getting outside is a great tool to combat isolation and boredom and has immense benefits in recovery.
What Are the Benefits of Being Outside?
Nature is a healer; it allows for rest and stress reduction. Being outside is beneficial for every aspect of yourself. Interacting with nature heals your mind, body, and soul.
Social Benefits
You can also find social benefits when outdoors, as many outdoor activities can become group activities. Group activities allow you the benefit of building a sober community for yourself. Doing outdoor group activities can challenge you, push you out of your comfort zone, and provide you with a sense of purpose.
Health Benefits
Getting outdoors also has many health benefits. Spending time outside can help lower anxiety and reduce depression. You might also experience better sleep, increased self-esteem and confidence, and improved cardiovascular health. The sun is also a natural way to increase your vitamin D levels, which supports immune functioning and mental health.
How Does Being Outdoors Support Recovery?
Solid recovery combines good mental, emotional, and physical health plus a supportive community.
Physical Health
People tend to work out longer and burn calories more quickly when they work out outside. Even if weight loss isn’t what you’re going for, a healthy body contributes to a healthy recovery.
Emotional and Mental Health
When you spend more time doing things outside, you may find that you are happier in general and feel more in tune with your emotions. This is because nature can be a place of stillness and quiet reflection or a place to be active while viewing the beauty of different landscapes, which can improve the mind-body connection. Experiencing nature first-hand may even give you more hope for your life and recovery and make you more resilient to adversity.
Building Community
Group activities like outdoor sports teams or various clubs also greatly benefit your recovery. Doing things with people who have similar stories or interests not only gives you a solid, supportive community but also helps you build communication and teamwork skills.
As you and your team or club learn to work together and trust each other, you may even develop good leadership or decision-making skills that help you make good choices in your recovery. Additionally, being part of a group can give you people to lean on when you need help or need to express complex emotions in a healthy way. This is crucial to sustainable recovery.
Outdoor Activities
There are many outdoor activities you can try, including:
- Hiking
- Running or walking
- Bicycling
- Boating
- Fishing
- Camping
- Swimming
- Skiing
- Ice skating
- Team Sports
- Gardening
You can also take activities that are usually done inside and do them outdoors. Reading, journaling, painting, yoga, and more are all easily done outdoors.
Using Nature to Your Benefit
When you are in recovery, it is essential to utilize many approaches to support your mental and emotional health. Finding outdoor activities that you enjoy is one way to support your recovery journey.
Understanding Yourself and Your Emotions
Just being in the fresh air has health benefits. Being outdoors provides tremendous support in recovery as it can help you discover your values and assist in understanding yourself and your emotions in a healthy way.
Becoming Mindful
Observing nature can remind you to practice mindfulness and stay in the moment. Tuning into what you feel as you move through nature puts you in touch with your inner self and keeps you grounded. When people are actively using substances, they neglect themselves physically and mentally. In recovery, you must learn how to recharge and support your mental and emotional health— being in nature teaches you how to recharge in healthy ways.
Increasing Motivation
When you experience the health benefits of being outdoors, you will most likely want to continue to experience those things. As a result, you are more likely to put more effort into taking good care of yourself. To succeed in recovery, you must be dedicated to the idea of sobriety and willing to make positive changes. The more you experience positive change, the easier it is to create more positive change.
Changing Mindset
Outdoor activities promote health and wellness, but more importantly, they create a change in mindset that supports healthy choices and changes and a desire to commit to becoming your best self. Being outside and getting active promotes your desire for wellness. When you need new ways to actively support your recovery, manage and deal with mental health, and promote physical health, mental health, and emotional health all at once, there is nothing for this like the great outdoors.
Spending time outdoors has proven benefits, and it should be part of everyone’s daily lives, especially those in recovery. Being outdoors and being active has many health and recovery benefits. Being unplugged from the world, for even a short time every day, gives your mind and body space to experience healing. Nature is healing and calming, and it allows you to truly relax. When you are in recovery, it is crucial to participate in activities outside because it is an important outlet for dealing with emotions and a way to avoid being bored. You may find that being outdoors reduces stress levels, allows for relaxation, reduces anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and reduces the chances of depression. The Guest House provides plenty of opportunities to spend time in nature — our integrated programs are waiting to help you. Call us today at (855) 483-7800 to learn more.