The Importance of Going Outside
I often hear people complain that they are depressed, or that they struggle with depression, be it online or in everyday conversation. And many do. It’s good that we have a more open dialogue about mental illness than we once did a few years ago. And as someone who suffers from mental illness, I am often the first to be all ears when someone has an issue they wish to discuss. That being said, however, I can’t help but be sceptical in some cases. Being depressed is not the same as feeling sad or down about something for a few hours at a time. That’s just called having emotions. Depression, in the clinical sense of the word, is more like a weight that you can’t shrug off, no matter how hard you try.
In the case of those who aren’t actually depressed, I would argue that part of the reason for these feelings is spending too much time indoors. As civilisation becomes more and more urbanised, people are increasingly spending their time indoors and less time outside. This change in lifestyle has disconnected people from the natural world and its beauty, leading many to become restless in their urban surroundings, then resorting to less than healthy modes of escapism, stretching from video games to pornography.
The point in spending time outdoors is not to embrace the wilderness like some tree-hugging hippie (not that there’s anything wrong with being a tree-hugging hippie), but to disconnect from the madness of modern life for a while and appreciate the calmer facets of life. It enables us to think with greater clarity and be reminded of the fact that there’s more to life and the world than getting ahead in the city. Furthermore, the beautiful surroundings and fresh air can help us to cosset our mental health, as we reconnect with the greater reality of things and are able to relax, even if only for a short period of time.
So next time you’re feeling low, try going outside for a walk, especially if it’s a nice day, and see how it makes you feel. You may just find it lifts your spirits.
