Ever get into that deep semester funk? The one where you seem to be endlessly busy yet gaining no traction on your workload? Countless trips to the library, TRAX commutes and late nights spent exchanging spare change in the car for access to a coffee shop’s wifi can really take it out of you. The most effective counter to the bust-and-bust cycle of student life I’ve found is to schedule in some time to play outside.
It may sound odd, but Outdoors Deficit Disorder is totally a thing. Going outside is an integral part of better functioning. An article in The Guardian, drawing on studies from the University of Essex and the American Medical Association, states, “Free and unstructured play in the outdoors boosts problem-solving skills, focus and self-discipline. Socially, it improves cooperation, flexibility and self-awareness. Emotional benefits include reduced aggression and increased happiness.” A 2010 study published in The Journal of Environmental Psychology found that “being outdoors was associated with greater vitality, a relation that was mediated by the presence of natural elements.” Connection to the natural world is positively correlated in these and other studies with positive mental health benefits.
Luckily for U students, Utah is the ultimate outdoors playground. There are eight world-class ski resorts within an hour’s drive, biking and hiking trails that connect campus to the Wasatch mountains and dozens of state and national parks within a few hours’ drive. Green space at city parks, community garden plots and thriving local fishing, climbing and running communities are easily accessible avenues to get outdoors. The Parks, Recreation and Tourism program at the U even offers a comprehensive series of for-credit outdoors classes.
It may sound counter-productive to those with the workaholic inclination, but surviving school takes some non-productive decompression time. It’s about more than just getting your daily dose of Vitamin D: connecting with the natural world can help you feel less like a cog in a machine and more like a living, breathing, original entity. It’s also worth noting that your 20s are your peak athletic years. It’s only going to get more physically difficult to learn new sports and strive for new athletic achievements; use this knowledge as motivation to justify fixing up that mountain bike over buying a new video game console.
I have taken some memorable classes during college, but nothing comes close to being as personally important as some of my favorite summit attempts, backcountry ski descents or bouldering trips. Looking back on my undergraduate career, the memories that matter most correlate to hiking boots melted in front of Uinta fire pits, Alta passes, slacklines, surfboards and telemark boots. Going outside can be something to live for, an important counter to doing things to survive.
The hectic life of being a full-time student and working bad jobs (with worse hours) can take its toll on anyone. The important thing is to remember that it’s all being done with quality of life as the ostensible end goal. Don’t sacrifice your well-being now to intermediate steps to achieving greater well-being in the future. Both during this finals season and your future collegiate endeavors, choose to live connected to the natural world. I guarantee it will be worth it.