Most people with nine-to-five jobs often lead sedentary lifestyles, although it’s not always by choice. This can be because their demanding work schedules leave them very little time for much else, let alone stay active through sports or exercise. And this is after they’re sat in front of a computer for eight hours every day at work.
Because the lack of physical activity throughout the day can be more exhausting than moving around, the same people will have much less energy to be active at night. This is especially concerning because their strict nine-to-five schedules will be fixed for life unless they switch career paths.
And all that exhaustion throughout the work week will be carried over to the weekend. Many people will schedule their errands, chores, and other responsibilities on these two days, which they have to accomplish before facing another week of work. This endless cycle of exhaustion and lack of physical activity can lead to serious health problems later on.
That’s not even accounting for the fact that most people nowadays are unknowingly suffering from nature-deficit disorder (NDD), which comes from not spending enough time in nature. Although NDD has yet to be considered a real health condition, it already has real repercussions for many people in the digital age.
To address this growing problem, you should create opportunities for you to become one with nature from time to time. Instead of spending your weekends cooped up at home, you should pack a bag and go where your feet take you, preferably somewhere with fresh air. Here are two recreational hobbies that you can do to spend more time in the great outdoors:
Hiking and Camping
One of the best ways to breathe in the fresh air and get out of the city is camping. It’s easy to find safe camping sites that you can go to, especially if you have access to national parks or public reserves. Plus, it’s also a great chance to distance yourself from the constant need to be online 24/7.
Being in the digital age has led most people to believe that they have to be connected to everyone, particularly the youth. It’s because they grew up constantly being surrounded by social media, which means instead of going out to meet their friends, they can talk to each other on FaceTime.
While all these tech developments are advantageous to society as a whole, they also shouldn’t be the only things that people’s lives revolve around. And going camping may be the perfect opportunity to do that. So if you need to disconnect from the world, strap on your hiking boots and head out into the wilderness.
Where you go depends on your physical abilities, budgetary, and time constraints. For instance, if you only have the weekend for an overnight camping trip, you should choose an easy trail. But if you want to spend more time in nature and don’t mind the challenge, you should consider going on a guided tour on the Larapinta trail in Australia, which is a popular trekking site that you should see at least once in your life.
Sailing
If you prefer being on the water much more than land, you can try out sailing as your outdoor hobby. This will be perfect if you already have a growing fascination for boats and sailing as a sport, but those aren’t prerequisites for wanting to try sailing.
In fact, this can very well be the encouragement you need to head out into the water. And you don’t even have to be the one handling the sails to enjoy the activity. If you’re not keen on learning how to sail a boat, you can go on guided tours or come along with your friends when they go sailing too.
The point is that you can enjoy the recreation just by simply being on the water and feeling the salty air on your skin. It will be a nice way to get out of the city and far from the loud noises within it. Plus, it can offer you a chance to disconnect from the internet and connect with the natural world.
Of course, it would be impractical to go on these adventures every weekend, but maybe you can schedule them for your vacations and holidays. This way, you won’t have to take time off work to relieve your stress and keep your sanity, given all the responsibilities weighing on your shoulders.
And who knows? Taking this chance to enjoy the great outdoors and be in nature may help you achieve your dreams of travelling the world. Life is too short to let it revolve around working and fulfilling your responsibilities at home. So, give yourself opportunities to breathe in the fresh air and be.