Definition
Playing sport outside can improve your physical health, mood and creativity.
How to Do It
There’s not much to it: Just get outside and play sports. There are many public sports facilities, parks and other open areas you can use to play your favorite sport.
Benefits
Time Commitment
An hour
Why it works
Regular exercise is good for your fitness and health [3]. Lack of exercise can lead to many chronic health conditions [6].
Exercise releases endorphins and increases blood flow to your brain. This improves your mood and general wellbeing [3].
And physical activity outside is slightly better for your mood than physical activity inside [2].
Suggested Frequency
At least weekly
Supporting Studies and Articles
- https://www.cmaj.ca/content/174/6/801.short
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es102947t
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1468-2850.2006.00021.x?casa_token=18cjJjCNpp8AAAAA%3Au7wHCqujbrvNMyUdYljviPo7XH_n_lCklX104nw4-Bgv2GpHKgwzJkJwm2XYcITQrdyyMWT3u4hHwg
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10400419.2015.1087258
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2006.00122.x?casa_token=ujZ-tGruDX4AAAAA%3AQQcJoQ5Z4q9MGBv6rrBgZ3P6eDwHueDPhbUuDE77AQTe6qpyEykL1Yw65D_5A082s2Qh0cmOtB5BjA
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743509002199
Side Effects
Playing sports can risk injury.
Gurus/Celebrities/Doing it
Emma Watson - tennis and field hockey
Terry Crews - football
Mathew McConaughey - golf
Jamie Foxx - basketball
Avril Lavigne - hockey (on ice skates or rollerblades)
Suggested Time of Day
Any, but if you are outside between 10am and 3pm use sunblock.
Notes
Playing sports in a team would bring the added benefits of social interaction and community [5].
