Why We Feel Better After a Day Outside

There’s something weirdly powerful about spending time outside.

Not in a “sell all your belongings and move into the woods” kind of way. We’re talking about the simple stuff. Sitting on a porch after dinner. Walking the dogs. Riding bikes instead of driving somewhere. Listening to music outside while the sun goes down. Even running errands feels slightly less annoying with the windows down and fresh air coming in.

At some point, many of us stopped spending time outdoors naturally. Life shifted indoors. Work became screen-based. Entertainment became streaming-based. Socializing became app-based. And before we knew it, entire days could pass without stepping outside for more than a few minutes.

We’ve noticed something over the past few years, though. We almost always feel better after a day outside.

Not magically cured. Not transformed into mountain-climbing wellness gurus. Just…lighter. Calmer. More connected to life again.

And science backs a lot of that up.

Why We Feel Better After Spending Time Outside

Spending time outdoors can impact mental health, stress levels, sleep, mood, and even physical health in ways that are surprisingly measurable.

According to the American Psychological Association, time in nature has been linked to reduced stress, improved attention, and better overall mood. Studies have also shown that spending time outdoors can help lower cortisol levels, the hormone most closely associated with stress.

Another study published found that people who spent at least 120 minutes a week in nature were significantly more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who didn’t.

That doesn’t mean you need to disappear into a national park every weekend. Two hours spread throughout the week count.

That’s basically:

• a few evening walks
• coffee outside in the morning
• sitting at the beach for an hour
• reading on a patio
• taking your dog around the neighborhood
• eating dinner outdoors instead of in front of the TV

Sometimes we overcomplicate what “getting outside” has to mean.

Fresh Air Feels Different When Life Feels Heavy

One thing we’ve noticed personally is that being outside interrupts the mental spiral.

When we stay indoors too long, especially while working online, life can start to feel oddly repetitive. The same walls. Same notifications. Same tabs open. Same cycle every day.

But outside forces your brain to notice things again.

The weather changes. The light changes. You hear birds, traffic, wind, people talking, dogs barking, and music playing somewhere in the distance. Even your body moves differently outdoors than it does sitting inside all day.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have also discussed how time outdoors and exposure to natural light can support healthier sleep patterns and circadian rhythms, which affect energy, mood, and mental clarity.

Sometimes the solution is not another productivity app.

Sometimes you just need to go outside for a little while.

Outdoor Time Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive

One thing we really care about talking about is accessibility.

A lot of outdoor content online starts feeling like:

• expensive hiking gear
• luxury cabins
• elaborate camping setups
• thousand-dollar adventure vacations

That’s great for people who enjoy those things, but outdoor time doesn’t need to look like a sponsored survival documentary to matter.

Some of our favorite outdoor moments have been:

• sunset walks
• cheap beach days and adventures
• sitting around a firepit
• biking around town
• taking Rue and Bea outside
• reading on a blanket
• eating takeout at a park instead of at home
• opening the windows and listening to a thunderstorm roll in

The point isn’t performing “outdoorsy” behavior correctly.

The point is reconnecting with life outside the constant noise.

Why We Created a Get Outdoors Challenge

Part of the reason we started our Get Outdoors Challenge is because we realized how easy it is to unintentionally spend entire weeks disconnected from the outside world.

Not because we don’t like nature. Just because life gets busy.

The challenge is meant to make outdoor time feel approachable again instead of overwhelming. No pressure. No intense fitness goals. No requirement to climb a mountain before sunrise.

Just intentional moments outside.

Maybe that looks like:

• walking after dinner
• drinking coffee outdoors
• watching a sunset
• visiting a local trail
• reading outside instead of scrolling indoors
• replacing one drive with a bike ride

Small shifts still count.

If you want to join us, you can grab the challenge here:
Get Outdoors Challenge

The Outdoors Helps Us Feel Human Again

We don’t think being outside fixes everything.

But we do think it helps us reconnect with ourselves a little bit.

Life moves fast. Screens are loud. News cycles are relentless. Algorithms constantly compete for our attention. Sometimes it feels like we’re all consuming life more than actually living it.

Going outside slows things down just enough to remember there’s still a real world happening around us.

And usually, after a day outside, we feel a little more like ourselves again.

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions