How to feel more alive and shake off stress and anxiety with 3 simple steps
Go Outside and Play!
One of the most important lessons I learned as a kid on stress management was something so incredibly simple it could easily be overlooked- go outside and play.
Growing up in the 80s and 90s, without cellphones and dial-up internet, I did just that every day. After dropping off my backpack and grabbing a snack, I was outside until dinner time, making mud pies and building tree forts.
I didn’t think much about play until years later when Covid started and I couldn’t just distract myself from the pressures of the day with trips to Target. I recognized how easy it is to get caught up in “things” with constant screen time on top of an un-ending to-do list for both home and work.
I missed going outside and I missed play.
Since that day of realization, it has been my personal goal to go outside and to play at least once a day, every day.
Disclaimer: I have 3 kids and 2 dogs, so this sometimes happens even if I don’t mean to, but sometimes a person needs to be intentional about really playing, letting go, being in the moment and doing something just for joy. Plus, there is something about getting outside and breathing some fresh air, feeling the sun on your face.
When is the last time you did that?
No judgement if it has been a while, life happens but it can help to be intentional about getting out there and having fun.
So why does getting outside help you feel less stressed? According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, research shows a connection between exposure to nature and stress reduction. Time in green spaces significantly reduces blood pressure as well as the stress-related hormones cortisol and adrenaline. What an easy and fun way to feel good!
Getting outside sounds pretty good but when you add in the play part, it gets even better. Studies have shown that adults who play have significantly lower levels of perceived stress and a higher use of coping skills.
So what does “play” look like when you are no longer a small child? It could be so many things, the most important key is that it is something that brings you to the present moment and brings you joy.
I love skateboarding, playing with my kids, laughing with my husband.
Not sure how to play or where to start?
If so, follow these simple steps to guide you to finding your fun and getting outside to play every day:
Do one new thing every week. This could be big things, like an afternoon exploring a new neighborhood in your city, or small things like grabbing an oat milk yogurt at the grocery store. The scale of what you do doesn’t matter, but the habit of doing something new does. *Pro-tip: do this new thing on the same day every week so you remember to do it.
Go outside every day. List out different things you think you could do outside. Maybe you are already doing something? Or maybe you have done something in the past and think you may like to give it a try now? Look at that list and do one thing each day for at least 5 minutes. This could even be sitting outside.
At the end of your day, think of the times that you played. You can journal this and list out the fun moments or simply just think of it in your head. However you do it, make sure that you make it a habit to recognize the ways that you to play each day. Sometimes we already are having fun but we just don’t recognize it. Spending time thinking about the ways that you play, remembering those things after the fact will start to make you feel like you are having fun and will make getting out to play that much easier.
So give it a try today. Go outside and play!
-Brittany