40 Reasons To Get Outside

We all know there are a bunch of reasons why ‘getting outside’ is good for the mind, body and soul. To help us celebrate our 40th birthday, Kane Ford from Get Outside Melbourne has pulled together his top 40 reasons to hit the trail so you can live a healthier and happier life with some surprising benefits you won’t find on the average list.

1.     Make the most of your weekend – its easy to get to Sunday night and feel like you haven’t really maximised your weekend. Plan a hike, get outside and make the most out of the two best days in the week!

2.     Forget Botox, the outdoors keeps you looking and feeling young — According to a study in the Journal of Aging and Health, adults over 70 who spent time outdoors experienced fewer sleep difficulties, complained less about aches and pains, and enjoyed improved mobility and ability to perform daily activities.

3.     Because lockdown sucked – Most parts of Australia have experienced COVID lockdowns so get outside and enjoy the freedom while your can. 5km bubbles are not cool.

4.     Big Vitamin D Energy – Getting outside and into the sunshine is good for so many things but did you know it also lowers the risk of Asthma!

5.     Mix up your fitness regime – Pushing weights or running on a treadmill can get repetitive. Get outside and mix up your training while burning some serious calories out on the trail.

6.     Don’t skip leg day – Hiking builds strength in your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and of course the calves so you won’t look like one of those guys at the gym who skips leg day

7.     Mother nature is the best medicine – Being inside and breathing in heated air dries out your nose and makes it a breeding ground for viruses

8.     Lowers your blood pressure and reduces stress — Spending time walking among or simply looking at trees lowers blood pressure and reduces the stress-related hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

9.     See the world better - Outdoor activity may have a protective effect on the eyes reducing the risk of developing nearsightedness (myopia)

10.  Reconnect with a friend over a hike – Getting outside for a hike is a great way to reconnect with an old friend you haven’t seen for a while. It’s the perfect place to catch up and check in to make sure your buddy is ok.

11.     Ain’t no mountain high enough - Going up and down hills gets the heart pumping, creating a great cardio workout.

12.     Increase your sex drive! Regular outings in the outdoors are a great way to lift a low sex drive. Studies show that all of the benefits that outdoor adventures offer—exercise, mood-boosting time in the sun (vitamin D), and stress reduction—are all things that can increase libido.

13.     Builds trust – people who regularly embark on outdoor adventures together tend to have a strong trust bond. It doesn’t matter if its with your best mate of 20 years or in a guided hiking group people connect quickly in the outdoors

14.     Challenge yourself – There is nothing better than hitting a challenging trail with some friends and supporting each other to smash through those limiting self-beliefs we all have at times.

15.     Stay tight with your mates - Sharing an interest like the outdoors with someone strengthens your connection and helps your create memories with others.

16.     Make the most of your exercise time – Walking on uneven terrain uses 28% more energy than walking on flat surfaces.

17.     Don’t worry be happy — Researchers have found that nature simply makes us happy. Anxiety, depression, and anger are notably decreased after spending time outdoors.

18.     Guided hiking tours keep you safe – If you’ve got a terrible sense of direction or you’re just worried about getting lost in the outdoors, jump on a guided hike experience with a licensed tour operation like Get Outside Melbourne.

19.     Got a problem to solve, go for a hike - All the extra mental stimulus and information bombardment we are faced with daily overwhelms our brains resulting in reductions in our cognitive resources, limiting our creativity and problem-solving abilities. Getting out into nature away from these stimuli restores our depleted attention circuits.

20.  Two words, Shinrin-Yoku – Google it and spend 30 minutes forest bathing next time you’re in the great outdoors.

21.     Step away from the screen – We are constantly connected to laptops, smart phones, TVs and digital devices. Getting outside and going for an adventure makes it easier for us to connect with ourselves and others without the digital distractions.

22.     It’s all in our backyard – We’re super lucky in Australia to be surrounded by accessible green spaces only a short drive from all our capital cities. Jump in the car and drive for 30 minutes and its amazing what’s in our backyards!

23.     Find you happy place – The Cathedral Ranges in Victoria has become my second home, as soon as I drive through the park gates I can feel all the pressures of the world lift. You should find your happy place too!

24.     Flexible working arrangements mean we can get outside more often – Post COVID, many organisations have adjusted their work-from-home policies that offer more flexibility for employees. Make the most of it so you can enjoy more time in the outdoors by starting earlier so you can get out in the afternoon.

25.     Something for everybody – No matter where you live in Australia there trails to suit every level of fitness, whether its your first ever hike right through to some pretty extreme adventures – there’s something for everyone.

26.     365 days a year of outdoor goodness – We’re super lucky in Australia to have an environment that means we can enjoy the outdoors all year round, with the right Merrell gear of course to keep you dry and warm in winter, and cool in the warmer months.

27.     Improve your focus — Studies show that both adults and children who have difficulties focusing or controlling impulses are better able to concentrate after being in nature. The natural world allows our brains to take a break from all that mentally drains us, and even reduces symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

28.     Prevent Osteoporosis - Hiking is a weight-bearing exercise, which builds muscle mass and helps prevent osteoporosis.

29.     Speed up the healing process — Illness and surgery can be painful which can increase stress and slow healing. However, researchers discovered that patients who spent time outdoors during their recovery required fewer painkillers, had fewer complications, and experienced shorter hospital stays.

30.  The worlds biggest classroom – For me, being out in nature is like being in the world’s biggest classroom. It’s a place I’m always learning about myself and the world around me.

31.     Time out with yourself – As much as I love getting outside with friends, there’s something pretty special about hitting the trail on your own.

32.     Feeling grounded – Hiking is a great way to get out of your head and feel present and grounded. When you’re taking on a challenging incline you’ve got nothing to focus on but putting one foot in front of the other.

33.     Live in the moment - The beautiful simplicity of getting out into nature removes that barrier between you and the natural environment. Everything is up close and real. No filters, just nature.

34.     Trees are awesome – Pretty simple, get amongst them. Without trees and green spaces on the planet it is safe to say we’re in a bit of trouble.

35.     You don’t have to ‘rough it’ in the great outdoors – Just because you’re planning an overnight hike doesn’t mean you have to eat crappy dehydrated meals and be cramped in a small wet tent. Come on a Get Outside Melbourne experience and have 5-star luxury while enjoying all the benefits of being out in nature.

36.     Healthy bones - Hiking is a weight-bearing exercise, which builds muscle mass and helps prevent osteoporosis

37.     Hiking all year round – Being outside in nature during different times of the years makes you conscious of the changing seasons. The same trail can feel completely different between Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring.

38.     Develop healthy habits – Exposure to the outdoors reduces the tendency to exhibit a variety of unhealthy behaviours, such as smoking, and encourages the development of healthier eating habits.

39.     We’re still the lucky country – We’re spoilt for choice in Australia with some of the most spectacular National Parks and trails in the world combined with incredible wildlife.

40.  Be a better human – If you’re hitting up the great outdoors regularly, it probably means you’re a healthier and happier version of yourself and that’s a pretty good reason to get outside more.

Merrell’s hiking collection  is now available in a range of Men’s and Women’s styles, with different colourways to suit everyone.
ABOUT GET OUTSIDE MELBOURNE

Get Outside Melbourne is an award-winning outdoor designed to share the best hiking locations to those visiting Melbourne with a sense of adventure, or locals just wanting to explore their own backyard. Created specifically for small groups, Get Outside offers an all-inclusive experience with barista-made coffees, luxury 4x4 transport and a delicious morning tea and lunch provided with every bespoke guided experience. With a variety of locations to suit any level of experience or fitness, all you need to do is get your active wear on and we’ll do the rest. 2020 has been a challenging year for Get Outside but during COVID restrictions they have diversified their go-to market strategy focusing on online Mental Health webinars and was recently announced as the Winner of the 2020 Business Australia Awards and was a Finalist of Channel 7’s Business Builders 2021 Competition.

ABOUT KANE FORD

Kane Ford, founder of Get Outside Melbourne, has a passion for travelling and the outdoors. Kane understands what it takes to succeed in the corporate world but he learned the hard way the need for real work/life balance, not the one we just talk about. In recent years he has faced mental health challenges relating to anxiety and burnout and wants to use his experience to help others realise the physical and mental benefits of ‘getting outside’.

Kane also has a strong connection to Australia’s indigenous culture having volunteered for two months in various aboriginal communities in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. He has also raised funds nationally to support the Indigenous Rangers program and enjoys sharing his experiences and knowledge.

CONTACT & ENQUIRIES

Founder: Kane Ford
Mobile: 0459 878 526
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.get-outside.com.au
Instagram: @GetOutsideMelbourne