Of course, one of the main benefits of exercising outdoors is, well, the fact that you’re outdoors. “It’s this idea of embracing natural movement outdoors versus this manufactured workout inside the box,” says Greenfield. In addition to the benefits of being outdoors in nature (which you can read all about here), Greenfield explains that exercising outdoors is an “unpredictable” experience. “There are all kinds of things that happen outdoors that are unpredictable and more stimulating to the mind,” he notes.
For example, you need to control the environment around you while running so that you don’t trip over a rock, tree, person, etc. Whereas if you are running on a treadmill, it is easier to mentally control it. Similarly, lifting weights or participating in a HIIT session outside in the cold adds a layer of healthy discomfort that your body and mind must overcome. Greenfield would argue that this mental stimulation is just as important when strengthening your body: When you have to focus in cold weather, it forces you to get out of your head in a way that promotes a degree of mental and physical fitness. That’s why, says Greenfield, “we can really keep our battery more charged by exercising outside.”
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