With many hobbies and activities still shut down due to Covid, people in the United States are looking for alternatives. As the economy is slowly recovering and many businesses are reopening, the range of available activities is growing by the day.
However, the risk of falling back into old habits is high. Once cinemas, bars, and restaurants fully reopen, they will most likely get swarmed with people. This increases the chance for infection drastically, posing a threat to unvaccinated people. So, why not use this chance and try some outdoor activities?
Now is the perfect time to try out something new. As experts point out repeatedly, being outdoors is the best way to stay safe and reduce your risk of a Covid infection significantly. Plus, with flu season right around the corner, being outdoors is the best way to strengthen your immune system.
So, whether you are looking for something that you can do right now or you want to try out something new: You should take a look at these activities and consider giving them a try.
Hiking
Even if you are not the type of person that enjoys silence, hiking could still be a worthwhile activity. Being one with nature, letting your thoughts roam freely, and breathing the fresh air - that sounds like a perfect recipe to escape the stress.
For many, hiking is in the same lane as meditation. It serves as a resort for them and is the perfect time to recharge the batteries. So, if you are feeling stressed, why not go on a hike? It might be enough to make you forget about the troubles at work or serves as a distraction from all the craze that is going on in the world these days.
Hiking also has numerous health benefits: For example, being outside is good for your respiratory system, while walking will undoubtedly help your cardiovascular system. You burn a good amount of calories on a 3-hour hike, so consider implementing a hiking trip into your weekly schedule.
Gardening
You might have a nice backyard, or even some land, but don’t know what to do with it? Consider gardening. Not only is working in the garden safe (since it is outside), it is also a great way to relax and be creative. Designing your own flower bed or harvesting your home-grown vegetables can be highly rewarding, making gardening an ideal hobby.
Besides that, you will also learn a lot about flowers and plants in the process. Understanding more about nature can be fascinating, making the activity educational at the same time. But the benefits don’t stop there: Gardening can also be very beneficial for your heart (https://www.today.com/home/gardening-could-reduce-your-risk-heart-attack-study-finds-t151802). This makes it the perfect activity for senior citizens and adults who have no other way to get physically active. So, pick up that spade and start digging!
Survival Training
Prepping and survival training is at an all-time high. The ability to survive in the wild is a skill that many people want to re-learn since the digitalization of our society has led to most of us losing vital survival skills. Some base this interest on wild theories about the collapse of civilization; others are just interested in learning how to survive. But, no matter your motivation, survival training can go a long way.
Besides learning essential tips and tricks that could come in handy in an emergency situation, survival training is also entertaining. Starting a fire is a fulfilling asset that will set you apart from many of your colleagues.
If you are interested in learning how to survive, a tactical military monthly box (https://www.tacpack.com/whats-in-a-tacpack/) can be a great start. Every month, you receive gadgets and tools that can help you in a survival scenario. From knives to firestarters and multitools, TacPack covers all kinds of areas.
Paintball
Since the 90s, the popularity of paintball has exploded on a worldwide scale. Millions of people enjoy the game of guns and colors, participating in the activity monthly, if not weekly. The game puts a heavy emphasis on team play and can be an incredible amount of fun.
Over the years, paintball has grown into a professional sport. The paintball world championship boasts an impressive prize money of $100,000 - signifying the sport’s significance. However, paintball does come with another prize, too: If a paintball has ever hit you, you know exactly what we are talking about. A direct hit with a paintball hurts. A lot.
If you are not a big fan of the pain inflicted by a paintball, you can also try airsoft. It is pretty much the same concept, but instead of heavy bullets filled with paint, you shoot at each other with small pellets. Just be aware that hits will be a lot harder to call out - while airsoft bullets barely hurt, paintballs will leave a mark.
What’s with you 24/7 and negatively affects your mental, physical, and emotional health? Can’t think of anything? Because surely, if the answer was easy, you would have addressed the issue already. But this tricky little gadget doesn’t just affect your health, it’s also highly addicting.
If you still don’t understand, I mean your phone. Smartphones are now indispensable gadgets that permeate our professional, social, and leisure time. They are so necessary that we carry them everywhere—even to sleep! But are we really aware of the full harmful effects of our phones?
Physical Health
Moms have long cautioned our use of phones, and as it turns out, they may be right to be worried. Mobile phone use (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4350886/) has been shown to induce changes in brain activity, reaction times, and sleep patterns. It can also cause neck pain and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with extended use.
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