Into the Wild: 5 Outdoor Activities to Shake Up Your Sedentary Lifestyle

Being a working family man is great, but it is also challenging.

Trying to balance the time between jobs and loved ones can be exhausting, both mentally and physically, and a lot of us are not strangers to this. With time passing by, people usually have certain routines and habits engraved deep into their brains, and more often than not, those habits are bad. The workdays are the same: work-eat-sleep, while weekends and free time fall victim to your laziness and sedentary lifestyle, dragging away any chance of excitement, joy, and thrills of life. In the long run, living like this reduces the quality of your life and causes unhappiness, and further down the road, disease.

So what can you do? I believe that the best possible solution is going into the wild and connecting with nature. It will refresh and challenge you, and science has proven that spending time in a natural environment is vital to our well-being. Below, I have prepared a list of outdoor activities that are perfect options for someone like you. Some are more, some are less physically demanding, and it’s up to you to choose. One thing is for sure – none of them will leave you disappointed.

1. White water rafting

If you are the type who prefers dynamic, fast and crazy sports, then there is hardly a better option than white water rafting. For those lucky enough to live close to mountainous areas, it should not be difficult to find a rafting club, and there is no valid excuse not to try it. It will give you the opportunity to de-stress in a unique way.

The quick waters and fast sections of the rafting tour will require focus and take a lot of energy to cross; the more calm parts will enable you to enjoy the surrounding views and unwind.

One of the advantages of this sport is that it is a group activity, meaning that you can do it with your friends or your family. This can be a wonderful bonding experience, and will increase your satisfaction in life much more.

2. Bow hunting

Some would say that this is the “manliest” thing to do out there, but it is not the reason why I chose this activity. Hunting is one of the primal human means of survival, but it has been made obsolete by modern society. When you go to the wilderness searching for prey, you connect to something deeper within you that has been neglected for generations, and it is a life-changing feeling. There are a few reasons why I recommend bow hunting over using rifles.

First, it requires some strength to wield a bow, and when you combine that with all the hiking, it will make your hunt a brutal workout. Second, it is fairer to the animals. Bow hunting requires a lot of skill, and the reach of the arrows is shorter than guns, so you will have to step your game up to be able to hunt something. Lastly, it is more fun, so get the best compound bow for yourself, step outside, and discover your ancestral nature.

3. Kayaking

Kayaking is ideal for all those people who like relaxing and spending their spare time alone, or anyone looking for solitude. If you are one of those individuals, and you have never done this, it is time to give it a shot. The good news is that basic kayaking skills can be learned within a day, and from then on, you are good to go.

Of course first, you need to acquire all the necessary equipment. The convenient thing about this sport is that you don’t need to travel far just to reach a river or stream (this a good option of course), but you can also do it in channels running through your town or city. When it comes to physicality, the upper body will do all the work, and you will see significant increases in strength and cardiovascular endurance. What’s not to love here?

4. Camping

Need some time away from society? Try camping. Is there anything better than escaping into the woods for a day or two? The answer to this question depends on what kind of person you are, but I am sure that it is hard not to enjoy spending time in the great outdoors. Ultimately, camping is about relaxing, completely unwinding, and forgetting the fast pace of your everyday life. It doesn’t require any physical fitness, and you don’t have to be an exercise enthusiast to do it, but in the end, your muscles will get worked, and you will benefit from it.

Most of all, this kind of activity offers great chances for socializing with others, whether it be your family or friends. It is also the perfect opportunity to prepare and eat some great food. Spending the evening by the campfire is a unique, unmatched, chill-out experience, and it will prepare you for the good night’s sleep that only nature can offer.

5. Rock climbing

Without a doubt, this is one of the most difficult activities on this list. It requires a pretty high level of physical fitness since it fires up pretty much every muscle in your body. On the mental side, there can be other challenges; talk to some professionals and try out the sport with their guidance. This is an excellent mood and health-improving, as well as a unique, mind-toughening sport, that will make you meet some of your demons, and hopefully, overcome them.

What do you choose?

All in all, each of these activities differs greatly, and it is up to you to try them out and see which one is optimal for yourself. Let this article be an inspiration for all those who want to change their life for the better. And don’t stop here; research more, and maybe you will find something else to do. Just make sure that it helps you keep fit and happy, because there’s nothing in life more valuable than that.

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Source: Lifehack.org