Everyday City Activities Your Body and Mind Will Love

Your commute to work is actually working for you. Since cities are inherently walkable, it’s more than likely that simply going to work provides your body and mind with the benefits of being outside. Whether you walk, bike or even stand around waiting for a train, just five minutes outside in the sun and fresh air can have a positive impact on your mental and physical well-being.

Next time you pass an empty bench in the park, consider taking a seat and taking in your surroundings, even for 15 minutes. Rest is good for the body no matter where it takes place, but the ambient sounds of the city and nature that the park provides helps to bring a deeper sense of restfulness.

Your body loves the fresh, healthy ingredients found at your local farmers’ market, but there are also benefits to just being there. The vitamin D you absorb from the sun as you’re picking through the summer’s bounty can have benefits to body and mind, such as lower blood pressure and improved mood.

The great thing about being outside is that it benefits your body even when you’re sitting down having a cup of coffee with a friend. Did you know that just 20 minutes outside in the open air can give you as much energy as one cup of coffee? Ask for a table outside or take it to go to feel even more rejuvenated and energized.

Center even more than your chi by bringing your yoga mat outside in the sun and fresh air. You’ll burn more calories, too. When outside, the body works harder to balance the CO2 and oxygen levels, which requires more energy and burns calories. Go put the sun in sun salutation.

We all know reading is great for our minds, and adding the outdoors to that equation can make those benefits even greater. Fresh air feeds the body’s cells with much needed oxygen and, if you walk to the park to read, that time spent walking can help your mind become more focused.