Why Participating in Outdoor Recreational Activities is Good for Us
There are a variety of outdoor recreational activities worth trying out. There’s fishing, kayaking, rafting, biking, rock climbing, hiking and camping to name a few. Not only are outdoor activities beneficial to your health, being out with friends and family is fun and creates a bonding moment as well.
These days, there are plenty of online resources available for those who want to check local and national parks or hiking trails and conduct research to find the most ideal location for their outdoor recreation.
It’s good to know that although we are living at a time of of gadgets and social media, there are people who still participate in outdoor activities even though majority of folks prefer to stay indoors. According to a study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends 93% of their life indoors and this is not only happening in the U.S. alone. This pattern is increasing in other parts of the world as well and might cause health problems.
The National Institute of Health had recently done a study and found that increased screen time on gadgets, computers and television has a negative effect on an adolescent’s brain development. In addition, children who are spending more than two hours a day on screens get lower scores on thinking and language tests.
In an article, The Outbound Collective’s Brynn Schmidt wrote that outdoor activities like hiking and camping in the woods help develop children into well-rounded young adults. This is because they might be seeing wildlife and natural landscapes on TV or via the internet, but nothing beats the experience of actually seeing nature in action.
Being out on a hike or climb, you get to see first hand the natural environment’s flora and fauna, the wildlife as well as breathe the fresh air and listen to nature’s sounds. While you’re out in the mountains on a hike or camping, you get to appreciate nature and feel the lowering of your stress levels during your quick escape from a hectic work or school life and hopefully achieve a sense of balance.