I had a thought the other day when I was walking into the supermarket:
"You cannot get depressed outdoors"
I often find when I'm working from home, that going out the house for a walk (even a simple walk to the supermarket, which is 30 minute round trip for me), is like the highlight of my day. I do struggle with depression when I'm indoors, in a box, but that depression lifts when I am outdoors.
I really do think that it is unhealthy for a human to always be indoors (or to be indoor too much). Our ancestors didn't spend their lives in a box, they went out into the world, hunted, gathered, farmed.
And then it made me wonder if a big reason for the bad mental health in so-called civilized nations, is that the people spend too much time in boxes.
Definitely, it you are outdoors and walking, that is very good for the spirit.
Yes, we (in the so-called civilized nations) need to get out more.
You know, I hate my work from home life*. 8 or more hours a day stuck in a box in a box (my small bedroom / office, inside my house), staring at a joyless screen. Depression is almost to be expected.
*hate is probably a too strong word for it, really I am very lucky in my life
I like walking with a goal, I am not good at walking just for the sake of it. A goal could be anything from the local supermarket to a mountain peak.
"Are you depressed? Or are you just sitting all day indoors, not exercising, eating hyper-processed foods, getting 4000 steps a day, and not working on anything important to you?"