Exercise, long touted as a remedy for depression, can do even more for you if you’re exercising outside instead of in your home or the gym, according to new research.
A study published by the Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health in the UK said that people were better off mentally if they exercised through cycling outdoors, running or walking. The research expanded on previous studies that showed exercising outdoors was better than indoors exercise in terms of emotional stress and levels of fatigue.
Rich Mitchell, the author of the study, said that parks and forests seemed to provide the most benefits. But other outdoor environments, like swimming pools and lakes, can also up your mood.
The study was published online in “Social Science and Medicine.”
