Outdoor Workouts: How a Little Green Time Could Save Your Life

Now that spring has sprung, it's time to trade your regular gym sessions for some outdoor activity. Recent studies suggest that even just a few minutes outdoors can have an amazing impact on your body and soul. Five minutes of fresh air is all it takes to give your self-esteem a lift, boost your mood and increase your lifespan, according to researchers from the University of Essex in England.

The findings, to be published in the upcoming edition of Environmental Science and Technology, were compiled by analyzing the outdoor habits of over 1,200 people with differing ages, genders and mental health issues, paying attention to activities like walking, gardening, horseback riding and cycling. What they discovered was that spending time outdoors led to improvements in both the physical and mental health of the individual. "For the first time in the scientific literature, we have been able to show dose-response relationships for the positive effects of nature on human mental health," Jules Petty, co-author of the study and professor of the environment and society, said in a press release.

Got a lake nearby? The study goes on to suggest that this is especially true if you live near water. "There was a significant increase in people's self-esteem and mood, particularly when they exercised in the wilderness or by water," Jo Barton, co-author on the study, told the Daily Mail. "Historically we are drawn to water to survive." So why is being outdoors so good for you? It's a natural reaction, according to Barton. "It is in our genetic make up to be at one with nature."

Five minutes outside doesn't sound like much, but if you ask Barton, those five minutes could change the world. She thinks the health care system could be revolutionized by patients using exercise as a cure. "There is a large potential benefit to individuals, society and to the costs of the health service if all groups of people were to 'self-medicate' more with green exercise," she said. A little ambitious? Probably, but there's no doubt that a little exercise can have an incredible effect on a person's life. Plus, outdoor workouts are good for both your wallet and the environment.

So is it time to stop shelling out for that gym membership? Not necessarily -- at the end of the day, you have to choose an exercise routine that's right for you, and if that routine involves a treadmill and an air-conditioned fitness studio, so be it. Even so, you should make an effort to get outside every day -- it very well might do you a world of good.

Need some inspiration? Here are three cool things you can do outdoors with your family.