It’s nearly summer and that means only one thing: it’s time to get outdoors. That’s right, I’m talking full Smokey the Bear, pine-coated trails outdoors.

Along with being Employee Well-Being Month, June is also National Camping Month and tomorrow is National Trails Day. So if that’s not an invitation to get outdoors, let me fully extend the offer to you now.

For many people, having access to that coveted window seat in the office helps positivity flow freely and the day’s stress drift away. What’s even more interesting? By just simply thinking about outdoor activities, people can put themselves in a positive mood, improving self-esteem, and lowering depression. Seriously. But why stop there?

An easy, unassuming, and inexpensive way to improve well-being lies in a small nudge out the front door.

Move It, Move It

A sobering statistic: less than half (48 percent) of all adults meet the physical activity guidelines. What’s worse? Inactive adults have a higher risk of early death, some cancers, heart disease, stroke, and many more complications.

But getting outdoors and hitting the trails can combat many of these lamentable areas:

• Obesity – More than one-third (35.7 percent) of adults are obese. And more than one in 20 (6.3 percent) are extremely obese. The varying terrain of trails works a number of lesser-used muscles, helping fuel that burn during physical activity.

• Diabetes – Twenty-nine million people in the U. S. have diabetes, and it’s among the leading causes of death in the country. An uptick in physical activity can help stave off this daunting number from rising.

• Sick Days – People are significantly less likely to call in sick if they exercise for as little as 20 minutes a week. Exercise twice a week? Even less missed workdays.

So getting outdoors is a great way to get some physical activity. But you can get that at a gym, right?

Taller Than the Trees

Yes, the outdoors can help employees get the most out of their physical activity. But it’s the added mental benefits that really makes the outdoors an essential well-being resource:

• Reduce Anxiety – By exercising in nature instead of an urban setting, you experience enhanced tranquility, relief of anxiety and decreased depression, according to the American Planning Association as reported by California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR).

• Increase Creativity – Taking a quick stroll outdoors boosts creativity, giving you novel ideas to take with them into the workplace or beyond.

• Better Life Satisfaction – Ninety percent of those who are active outside express satisfaction with their personal health and fitness. Compare that to the 60 percent of people who don’t participate outdoors and admit they’re unsatisfied with their personal health and fitness, according to the American Recreation Coalition as reported by CDPR.

For some of us, it’s the chance to appreciate the solace and freedom that the outdoors brings. For others, it’s the chance to clock some genuine hours with friends while escaping the white noise of our everyday lives. Just remember, there’s no one way to appreciate your time outdoors.

See You Further on Down the Trail

Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, we can all agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson that it’s the change of pace that’s universal, “Adopt the pace of nature: her pace is patience.”

All this for no more than the cost of a day pass to a national park? It almost might sound too easy. And that’s OK. After all, it’s only natural.

Getting outdoors for National Trail Day or National Camping Month? Share your photos on Twitter using #EWM15.

This article was originally published on: The Uprising Blog