Green Exercise is Just – Better!
Did you know that eco friendly exercise can make you happier, less fatigued, more relaxed, and give you a longer energy boost?
What’s not to love?
Here are 6 top tips for green exercise – and let me know in the Comments below what you do!
1. Get Outside
If the weather permits, walk, run or ride a bike outside, instead of using a machine which runs on electricity and needed resources to manufacture.
(You could even be super-efficient and collect rubbish as you exercise in your neighbourhood!).
Or use your time off to go on a hike and enjoy nature instead of sweating it out in an indoor gym.
“Green exercise makes people happier, less fatigued and angry, more tranquil and relaxed, and bestows a more lasting energy boost compared to indoor exercise”
Psychology Today
2. Green it Indoors
If the weather is bad, exercise at home or in your office. But don’t buy new “stuff”!
- Use tinned goods instead of weights.
- Use towels instead of a new mat.
- Use a small stool, an old crate or your stairs instead of a step.
- Use a skipping rope or jump rope instead of a machine for a challenging cardio workout.
3. Get Inspiration
If you’re looking for ideas for a workout, check your existing DVDs for inspiration. Or download a routine from a fitness website. Or check your cable/satellite/streaming TV service for free workouts on demand.
4. Get Gardening
Gardening gives you a good workout – digging, planting, weeding and watering are all healthy exercises, and if you plant fruit and vegetables you can harvest your labour too! You can also garden on your balcony or patio if you don’t have a garden.
Collect rainwater so you don’t have to pay to water your plants – here are some gorgeously green rainwater harvesting products.
5. Use Team Spirit
Working out with others makes you more likely to stick to your goals. Hold each other accountable to go walking or play tennis. Sign up for a group run, or join a soccer or volleyball team – they’ll probably have all the equipment already so you can share instead of buying new things.
6. Re-use it
If you bring water, of course you’ll want to carry it in reusable water bottles, rather than create more plastic waste with bottles.
Want another couple of quick tips? OK…..
7. Get into Gear
If you have to have new sports clothes for green exercise, buy certified organic bamboo or organic cotton or recycled fabric. Donate your old gear to charity / thrift shops.
8. Use it!
If you want a bike or exercise machine, save money and the environment by buying used – you can get great bargains on nearly-new equipment on eBay or Craigslist. No need for new resources, and you’ll be re-using existing ones.
Why is Green Exercise Better?
According to Psychology Today, outdoor or green exercise makes people happier and more relaxed.
Even five minutes of green exercise (like walking across a park or campus) is likely to boost self-esteem and mood.
“Exposure to Nature via green exercise can be conceived of as a readily available therapy with no obvious side effects.”
Access to green areas such as parks and nearby countryside has been shown to enhance your brain function, reduce stress, improve sensory and motor skills in both children and adults, and even reduce the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
And according to the BBC, just five minutes of green exercise in a space such as a park can boost your mental health.
What’s not to love?
When I lived in the US,I always had an excuse for NOT taking a walk (it’s too cold, its too hot, its too humid, its SNOWING)….but here is Costa Rica, with near perfect weather, I have not excuse not to take a walk every day. Plus I no longer have a car, so if I want to eat, I have to walk to the market, the grocery, the farmacia, etc!!!!
Oh, and then I spend a fair amount of time chasing Angelina (my cat) around!!! That must count as green exercise!!!!
Sonya Lenzo
LOL! Yes, I thnk chasing Angelina definitely counts as green exercise (as well as walking to the shops of course). Good weather certainly helps! Thanks for your comment!
I can attest to your statement about helping with children’s issues. My stepson is on the autism spectrum. In the first few months of my marriage I was trying to come up with a way to connect with the new stepson. Never having been around children with this disorder I was at a loss but I knew I felt good when walking outdoors so one day I aksed the boy if he’d like to join me. He did. And boy what I difference it made in him.
I’m not sure if it was/is the outdoor air as much as it was/is the slowing down of the pace of life but he calms down and relaxes. He can carry on a conversation using complete sentences and complete ideas. My husband’s family finds my relationship wtih this boy amazing because he doesn’t “take to anyone like he does with you.” I point outside and say the fresh air and time alone together with only the trees and birds to distract you can do wonders!
Peggy
What wonderful inspiration – thank you so much Peggy! I’m delighted this is working so well for you and your nephew!
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