When most people think of sports, they think of football, basketball, soccer and the other main team sports. But there is a whole other type of sport. These are outdoor sports. They take place on mountains, trails, ski slopes and in many more interesting places that go much farther than a field or court. Even though these sports don’t get as much attention, they appeal to a different audience that is looking for something other than just winning and losing.
One main thing that outdoor sports do is change your mood. It is not a coincidence that after you ride your bike, ski or go for a hike you end up feeling happier than before. There are many scientific studies that show how and why these outdoor sports make you feel better. Studies show that after just 30 minutes of outdoor exercise, your cortisol levels go down. Not only that, but outdoor activity increases the release of your neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin), which are crucial for regulating your mood. Natural environments serve as a kind of a brain break from high-stress environments, as it helps relieve cognitive fatigue. Not only do outdoor sports change your mood, they also give a feeling that is often not experienced in traditional sports, adrenaline. Have you ever heard of the term “adrenaline junky”? Sports like mountain biking, surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding are some of adrenaline junkies favorite activities. This is because these sports release a large amount of adrenaline into your body. This is a feeling that many people love, and chase. I personally notice an adrenaline rush after landing a snowboard trick, or a jump on my mountain bike, and I think that is why I love outdoor sports so much. But if high risk and adrenaline rushes aren’t your thing, there are different outdoor sports that still match your interests.
Even though some outdoor sports are very intense, there are others that are completely on the other side of the spectrum. Sports like hiking are very relaxing and are used as a way for people to decompress. Just being able to get away from loud and over-stimulating daily life is enough to relax and reset your mind. Like I talked about earlier, there are many scientific studies that prove this. Some popular relaxing activities such as paddleboarding, flatwater kayaking, fishing, backpacking and camping are all very enjoyable and relaxing. Each has very different benefits that traditional sports do not offer. I know when I go outside and do one of these activities I feel much more relaxed and decompressed.
In conclusion, outdoor sports are very different from traditional sports and they offer an experience that can be catered to your personal needs. The versatility of the wide range of outdoor sports makes sure that there is an outdoor sport for everyone. I encourage you to go outside and try some of the outdoor sports mentioned in this article to see if what the studies say are true.
