CHOPPING WOODS AND STORING WATER

Common perception among people is that an “Outdoor lifestyle” is mainly fun and adventurous, following the pursuit of passion or people are just lazy and an “Outdoor Bum”.

While both these statements are true, the positives that an outdoor living has is immense, the best being that you can live longer by living an authentic outdoor lifestyle. The interpretation of outdoors is different for everyone:

• Someone who just loves outdoors and lives his / her entire life in the mountains and in nature's lap.
• It could be someone who lives a very natural lifestyle with minimal carbon footprint.
• It could be adventurous people who go to extreme length in the pursuit of conquering and climbing mountain peaks.
• Just a simple person who has chance encounters outdoors.
• The common thread among all is the passion for outdoors and the experiences every one of them experiences. They all experience increased happiness, less stress, better diets, and more exercise than the average person – all factors that contribute to a longer life span.

Below, we’ll break each of these down and the positive impacts of your outdoor lifestyle can have on your actual years living on this Earth.

EXERCISE

Exercise is effectively the most important part of Outdoor Recreation, be it Hiking, Trekking, Climbing, Kayaking, Skiing, or any other extreme adventure sport etc. The health benefits are innumerable and the chances of survival and living a long and a healthy lifestyle is greatly increased. The health benefits of exercise are endless, including reduced risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and smaller waistlines.

Studies proved that individuals who exercised regularly had a significant reduction in risk of dying from heart disease. In fact, the group who exercised the least had 6x the amount of risk of dying from heart disease than those in the highest exercise group.

LESS STRESS

The life outdoors is peaceful and gives an individual an escape from the typical day to day life. The outdoor life also works wonders on the stress levels one experiences.  This helps to reduce the hectic work schedules, home responsibilities and interpersonal tensions.

Increased amounts of stress have a detrimental impact on the body and can impact your wellbeing. This includes heart disease, anxiety, depression, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems etc.

When you’re stressed, your body produces hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which increase blood pressure as well as alter your digestive and immune systems. These hormones can also cause you to gain weight.

Alleviating stress can help your body function better and feel better. Getting outdoors can help alleviate stress by increasing calming and peaceful activities.

INCREASED HAPPINESS

Spending time in an outdoor environment relaxes our mind and thus makes us happy.  Well, happiness has often been a link to increased longevity.

Studies showed that the advance of happiness is more important than the presence of negative emotions. Since the brain region that’s activated by happiness is also involved in blood-vessel functions, this is super important to live your life as happily as possible.

BETTER DIET

A healthy diet provides the right and essential fuel required by the body to survive. There are studies which have shown that typically more active individuals have better diets and smaller waistlines. Therefore, having a healthier and a better functioning body all around.

Outdoor recreators are no different. As we’re constantly in active situations and looking to fuel our bodies for adventure, individuals who spend time outdoors are typically looking for the best substances for the activity.

A healthy diet plays an important role in survival and longevity.  Studies have shown that certain diets can increase your chances for longevity. This includes many of the same foods that are helpful for sustained activity, including whole grains, fresh fruits, coffee, and healthy proteins, such as fish and nuts. These are all heart healthy foods that can help your endurance in outdoor sports, but also live longer.

The above-mentioned points are important considerations for the longevity and healthy living of an individual.  The benefits are compounded when one is outdoors, so you don’t have to make excuses for your excursions and experiences – it’s all helping you live longer!

RELATIONSHIPS ARE STRONGER THAN EVER

The Familial relationships are varied and strong.  However, in today's times of stress and work culture, the strings attaching the families are stretched to their limits.  The relationship between kin’s, peers, and friends is strengthened when they regularly go on outstation camps / excursions together.  It helps to relax the already stretched bonds and give a new lease of life until the next program.