Combatting Cabin Fever Through Exercise
If you’re a self-profe ssed homebody, you could seriously benefit from a change of scenery. Spending time in nature could improve your physical and mental health, ward off illness, and actually make you happier!
As the Father of Western Medicine, Hippocrates, once said, “Nature itself is the best physician.” If you’re curious about the health benefits you can reap from being outside, read on! Below, we cover 13 reasons to soak up everything nature has to offer. Read on for the best benefits of getting outdoors.

1. Being in Nature Boosts Life Satisfaction
Although
not officially recognized as a medical diagnosis, cabin fever is a
very real phenomenon. According to CNN,
the term can be traced back to the early 1800s when contracted
infectious diseases forced many to self-isolate. It’s also commonly
experienced during the winter when it’s not advisable to leave
one’s shelter. Due to being in lockdown today, more people report
to experiencing cabin fever and exercise could be an effective way to
combat it.
Noticing
the signs of cabin fever
One
of the reasons cabin fever isn’t considered a medical condition is
that the symptoms are too broad and common. It can be any or a
combination of the following:
•
restlessness or boredom
•
irritability
•
low motivation
•
sadness or depression
•
difficulty in focusing on tasks
•
food cravings
•
and lethargy.
Experiencing
any of these negative emotions could just be a sign of being human
but it could also be indicative of cabin fever. People who are more
outgoing are naturally more prone to being distressed when staying at
home for long periods of time. But even individuals who consider
themselves as homebodies can experience it. Not having the option to
walk around, visit a favorite spot, and hang out with family and
friends contributes to cabin fever. The good news is that there are
plenty of ways to feel less trapped in your own home.
How
to fight it with exercise
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The
most obvious solution to cabin fever is, of course, going outside and
getting some fresh air. Maybe you can go out for a run around the
park to hit two birds with one stone! Insider points
out that vitamin D, which you could get from exposure to sunlight,
can improve mood and behavior.
But
with safety concerns due to the ongoing pandemic, it’s
understandable if you want to minimize your exposure outdoors. A lot
of people are also working from home which might add to the tension
that’s building up at home. To help you out, an article written
by James
Gonzales lists
key tips to keep in mind when establishing healthy routines if you’re
staying mostly indoors. He highlights that it’s important to create
boundaries including scheduling breaks that can reduce that feeling
of being always ‘on’. This should include a break for exercise as
it counts as personal time or something that you do for
yourself.
There
are plenty of compelling reasons to stay fit. It’s proven to ease
many negative emotions including depression which can help make you
feel more comfortable indoors. In fact, the benefits of exercise on
keeping your mental health in check is widely studied. Writer Aaron
Zamzow explains
that exercise breaks the cycle of stress, which creates physical
tension in the body that eventually develop into psychological
strain. This is all mainly due to the power of exercise to release
endorphins or the so-called happy hormones. The rush of positive
feelings that you get after completing a workout, which includes
happiness and satisfaction, is linked to this important
hormone.
Moreover,
exercise also has key cognitive benefits. Our previous article,
‘Exercise:
Proven To Boost Mental Health’,
discussed that one of the main benefits to the brain is the increased
focus. When you’re able to direct your attention to a task, you can
complete it more efficiently. Feeling productive again could be the
key to increasing your motivation level and keeping cabin fever at
bay.
Written exclusively for Milehighfitness.com
by Alicia Cook