In case you missed them, here\u2019s a summary by Dr. Megan Hurst\non the benefits of getting some exercise in natural environments during the assessment\nperiod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recharge your batteries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Green exercise might be particularly helpful if you\u2019re\ncurrently studying and revising hard. This kind of focus is referred to as\n\u2018directed attention\u2019, and it takes cognitive energy to maintain it. Attention restoration\ntheory (Kaplan\n& Kaplan, 1989<\/a>) suggests that green exercise encourages \u2018soft\nfascination\u2019 \u2013 a form of involuntary attention which is not so draining. Natural\nenvironments with greater biodiversity may be particularly associated with\nthese feelings of restoration (Marselle\net al., 2016<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boost this benefit: aim to walk in areas with lots of\ndifferent plants (and animals!). You can also purposefully extend your\nattention outside of your body while you are exercising \u2013 what can you see\naround you? You might find the woodland portion of the boundary\nwalk<\/a> (near the Falmer Sports Complex) a particularly nice place to do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Focus on feeling<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the great things about having a campus in the South Downs is the incredible landscape, which sometimes comes with some impressive hills to climb, or tree roots to clamber over. The challenges posed by the outdoors can help us to focus on our experience within our bodies and how they feel, rather than how they look. Lots of my research investigates how focusing on appearance in exercise settings can have negative consequences for how we feel about ourselves (e.g., Hurst et al., 2017<\/a>). Avoiding this appearance focus can be easier away from classic exercise environments, like gyms or fitness centres (Prichard & Tiggemann, 2008<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boost this benefit: as you are walking, focus on how\nyour body feels, and what you are experiencing right now. You might notice and\nenjoy the sun on your skin (if you\u2019re lucky!), the burning in your legs or the\nrasp of your breath as you climb a hill. There\u2019s a good one at the north end of\ncampus on the Boundary walk for just this experience!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Master the challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The ecological dynamics approach to green exercise (Brymer et al.,\n2014<\/a>) suggests that exercise in natural environments is good for us because\nof what these environments encourage. Natural surroundings provide more\nopportunities to engage in challenges (like those hills we mentioned earlier!)\nand in simple, enjoyable activities. Interviews with recreational road cyclists\nhighlight the \u2018uncomplicated joy\u2019 experience by tackling physical challenges\nwith nature as a backdrop (Glackin\n& Beale, 2018<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boost this benefit: Take a moment to appreciate the view, and what you\u2019ve achieved when you reach the top of a hill \u2013 like the beautiful view out over Stanmer Park on the Boundary Walk. Or indulge your inner child by running down the hill in the woods at the northeast end of campus \u2013 wheee!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Research suggests that just 10 minutes of green (vs. indoor)\nexercise can be beneficial for wellbeing (Focht,\n2009<\/a>), so it is worth taking even a short break outside while you\u2019re\nrevising in the assessment period, or if you\u2019re one of our PGT students writing\nup your dissertation over the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can see more information about walking and running\nroutes on campus here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/psychology\/files\/2019\/05\/Woodland-in-the-South-Downs.jpg?fit=550%2C413&ssl=1\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/psychology\/files\/2019\/05\/Fulking-Hill-in-the-South-Downs.jpg?fit=550%2C413&ssl=1\")