Voices of U of U Health
Recreation, Nature as Cures for Burnout
By Dorothy (Dart) Schmalz
When life’s pressures make you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or down, there’s some good news: Relief might be right outside your door.
The research is clear. Humans need recreation. It's vital to recharge and refresh us, helping us balance our mental health.
Taking time to unplug and recreate helps us be at our best when it matters most. And when you can add exposure to the natural world, all the better.
Valuing the “Life” in “Work/Life Balance”
When someone asks us what we do, we often default to describing our job—not our hobbies, passions, or what brings us joy. Our culture values hard work. But what we do for fun and recreation may reveal far more about who we really are.
Putting so much focus on work diminishes the value of life’s lighter moments. It adds to our stress, increases pressure to work more and harder, and leads to burnout.
When people say they need better work/life balance, what they often mean is, “I need more life in my life.”
Recreation helps to balance the scales.
Make Time to Re-Create Your Mind and Body
Stress and the poor health outcomes related to it have been on the rise in recent years. Health care professionals are especially prone to stress and burnout.
Doing what we enjoy and spending time with people we love is important to finding relief from work-related stress.
Finding and making time for recreation activities that you enjoy is key to treating and preventing burnout. This doesn’t have to be hours at the gym or hiking up a mountain. It can be anything that brings you joy and lowers stress.
Some ideas include:
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Knitting, scrapbooking, or other leisurely activities to help your mind relax.
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Taking a walk in a neighborhood park or on a nearby trail.
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Even sitting in the sun on the patio or backyard for a few minutes helps.
The Outdoors and the Inner Peace
Being in nature while doing activities you enjoy can improve overall health. A study led by University of Utah researchers shows as few as 10 minutes in a natural setting leads to lower stress levels and a better emotional state.
Some of the health benefits of nature include:
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Better physical health. Getting out and moving boosts your health. You don’t have to be extreme. Every little bit helps.
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Better mental and emotional health. Research has shown significant changes in non-clinical levels of stress, anxiety, and depression after being in nature. (Nature exposure is not a panacea for clinical depression or anxiety, but it certainly is complementary).
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Better social health. We connect better with people in natural settings and after exposure to nature.
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Better cognition and creativity. People think better and are more creative and productive after a break from work and even a little light activity in fresh air.
Coping with the Digital Demands of Life
On the job, many of us are bombarded with emails, virtual meetings, and instant messages. It’s all a lot of noise. We can’t recover from the constant pressure if we don’t shut that down.
Try sticking to a few specific times to check your email. If you can, set expectations with your team that once your workday is over, you’ll be offline.
When you get home, take time to put your device away and connect with your family, pets, or hobbies.
Unplugging is even helpful when you’re hard at work. I’ll often tell my students when they have a bout of writer’s block to go out for a walk. Their instinct is to say that they don’t have time. But unplugging and taking a walk can help them organize their thoughts much quicker than sitting at a computer staring at a blank screen.
Humans are meant to connect with each other, enjoy the sunlight, and spend time outside. We did not evolve to stare at screens all day. The best bits of self-care can come from unplugging from the daily indoor routine.
Relaxing and Enjoying Aren’t Niceties, They’re Necessities
Relaxing and taking time for yourself isn’t a waste of time. It’s not being unproductive. It’s an essential part of keeping us well.
It can be hard knowing where to begin with that first step. But guidance is available for those looking to get started. University of Utah employees, students, and community members looking for ways to get more recreation in their life can sign up for in-person or virtual leisure consultations offered by PEAK Health & Fitness to get advice and inspiration for burnout-relieving recreation.
As summer kicks off, this is a great time to reap the benefits of recreation. Recreation is “re-creation.” It helps us renew, refresh, and care for ourselves. Give yourself permission to discover outdoor activities that bring more life to your life—and more joy to your work.
