Outdoor Activities: Five Reasons Why Family Caregivers Should Embrace Outdoor Activities

Outdoor Activities: How much time do you spend outside?

Do you limit your exercise routines to indoor activities? It’s time to get outside. Here are five reasons why family caregivers need to embrace outdoor activities whenever possible.

Caregiver in East Hampton NY: Outdoor Activities

You Get to Be Social

Outdoor activities don’t have to be done alone. Bring your parents, siblings, and children and spend time together. Find activities you can enjoy together as a group. Miniature golf is one option. Kids and adults love it, and you can chat while you play.

Outdoor Activities Are Fun

Exercise is meant to help you embrace a healthier lifestyle. For that reason, your workout can feel like a tedious chore. When you go outside and try something new or do something you love, it moves from another boring activity to an exciting one.

When you enjoy what you’re doing, you’ll want to do it for a longer period. Instead of a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood, a birdwatching walk in a nature preserve keeps you going for hours. Exploring a new disc golf course is going to excite you more than 30 minutes on your treadmill does.

Nature Helps Ease Depression and Anxiety

Exercise does help the body produce hormones that make you feel better. The smells and sounds of nature also help with your well-being. Exposure to the soon boosts levels of the mood hormone known as serotonin.

As the body’s feel-good hormones increase, your mood also improves. Being outside in nature is known to help boost the mood and lower the risk of depression and anxiety.

It’s More of a Workout

Walking up and down hills or different terrains is more of a workout than being on a treadmill. If you play an outdoor sport, such as golf, you’re also using more of your body. You walk and stretch out the legs. But, swinging the golf club works out the arms, shoulders, and back.

It’s Motivating

Being outside and walking on nature paths or trails is more motivating than staring at a wall while using a treadmill. If you see the change in scenery, smell the flowers, and feel the breeze on your face, it makes you feel better.

As you’re inspired to feel this experience each day, you’re more likely to stick with it. A treadmill in the bedroom often becomes a storage rack. Head outside and stay motivated to exercise.

Every adult needs to aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day. What if your parents aren’t getting enough? Do they have someone there for encouragement or to remind them to get up and get active?

Professional caregivers help your parents remain independent by offering the helping hand they need. Hire caregivers to join your parents for outdoor activities. Caregivers can help them in their gardens, join them on walks, or drive them to area parks and trails. Call a home care agency to schedule caregiver services.

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring a Caregiver in East Hampton, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.