Why Being Outside Changes How You Feel
What one warm weekend in New York reminded me about wellness, sunlight, movement, and human connection.
The energy in New York completely changed last weekend.
I was in Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park with my son, and it felt like the city had finally exhaled.
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Thousands of people stretched across the grass.
Music playing.
Frisbees flying.
Dogs running everywhere.
Strangers actually talking to each other.
After months of winter coats, grey skies, and everyone rushing from one place to another…people suddenly seemed lighter.
I ended up throwing a frisbee with strangers, kicking a soccer ball around with my son, and spending most of the day outside without really checking my phone.
And honestly, it reminded me how different life feels when we spend more time outdoors, around people, and connected to something real.
Not optimized.
Not productive.
Just… alive.
☀️ Summer Changes More Than Your Mood
Winter can quietly turn life into maintenance mode.
Wake up.
Work.
Commute.
Repeat.
Then one warm weekend arrives and suddenly:
people linger outside longer
conversations happen more easily
kids play everywhere
the city feels human again
It also reminded me of something I wrote in a previous issue:
And I really felt that this weekend.
Something shifts when you spend hours outdoors instead of under artificial light… when you move your body without tracking it… when you talk to strangers instead of staring at a screen.
Your mind loosens a little.
You remember life is happening right now.
There’s obviously science behind this too. Sunlight, movement, social connection, and time outdoors all affect mood, stress, sleep, and energy levels.
But beyond the science, I think most of us can simply feel it.
Sometimes wellness isn’t another protocol.
Sometimes it’s:
sunlight on your skin
being outside longer than you planned
laughing with people you don’t know
hearing music drift across a park
losing track of time for a few hours
That’s health too.
A few reminders for this summer:
Spend more time outside than you think you need to
Move your body for fun, not just fitness
Say yes to spontaneous plans
Let yourself be less reachable sometimes
Don’t underestimate how healing community can feel
We forget this every winter.
And then summer comes back to remind us.
Further Reading:
Those first warm days in New York City always bring me so much joy. Everyone is in a good mood, happy to say hello to spring!
What’s one thing that instantly makes you feel like summer has officially started?