Is Working Out Outside Better Than Working Out Inside?

If you’ve ever worked out outside, you probably know how peaceful it feels. It’s just you, the rocks, the grass, & the birds chirping.

But, there aren’t any dumbbells in nature, so you might be wondering if you could even workout outdoors.

In this article I’ll discuss if working out outside is better than working out inside, & which side you should choose. 

Firstly, let’s start off with the benefits of working out outside so you can have a better idea of which side you should choose.

Pros of Working Out Outside

The pros of working outside are that it’s more peaceful, you get to spend more time in nature, it’s free, it’s more environmentally friendly & there are less distractions.

• Peaceful — Working out outside is peaceful. There are no distractions, no music, and no concrete walls. The only thing that you’ll hear is your heart beating & the birds chirping.
• Better Focus — Working out outdoors may lead you to have better focus during your workouts. This is because there are less distractions outdoors than a huge box gym. This is especially true since you’d be less likely to look at your phone when you workout outdoors.
• Spending Time Outdoors — Exercising outdoors gets you to spend more time outdoors. The wind blows, the sun shines, and the weather changes, which all can be relaxing.
• It’s Free — Outdoor exercise is free. No membership fees, no contracts. This is because you don’t need to spend money to go outside & do some push-ups or pull-ups.
• Environmentally Friendly — Working out outdoors is more environmentally friendly compared to working out indoors. This is because you don’t need to drive to the gym, buy equipment, or use air conditioning. Over time, these actions can add up & you can have a positive impact on the Earth.

Now let’s discuss the cons of working out outside since outside it isn’t all sunshine & rainbows (that was pretty clever!)

Cons of Working Out Outside

The biggest cons of working out outside are that the weather conditions can interfere with your workout, & there are much less equipment choices outdoors. 

• Less Equipment — Outside there are no barbells, smith machines, or anything of that sort. If you aren’t bringing your own equipment, it can be really difficult to progress your workouts outdoors.
• It’s Windy — Though the wind may feel good if you’re sweating, if you stop exercising and let the wind hit you whilst your sweaty, you’ll likely get sick. This could set you back from working out for multiple days. So, if you don’t want to get sick whilst working outdoors, you should make sure to either keep moving, wear protection, or to train indoors when it’s really windy.
• It’s Wet — If it’s raining, you’ll get wet. It’s best to either wear protection or work out inside during bad weather because the rain will make your belongings wet & could possibly make you sick.
• It’s Hot — If it’s hot outside, & you’re exercising at the same time, get ready to start sweating! If you don’t want to get fatigued super quickly, it’s best to work out indoors during hot weather.
• It’s Covered In Bugs — If it’s sunny but also humid outside, you’ll probably get annoyed by all the bugs that are flying or crawling around. It’s best to work out indoors during humid weather if you don’t want to deal with bugs.

Now let’s discuss the pros of working out indoors.

Pros of Working Out Indoors

The biggest pros of working out indoors is that you have more control over your exercise selection & there are no weather disturbances.

• More Exercise Selection — If you workout indoors, you’re going to have much more exercises to choose from. If you go to a big gym, you’re going to have many exercise choices to choose from. This is probably the biggest factor people workout indoors since they want to enjoy all of the equipment & exercise types.
• No Weather Issues — Indoors there aren’t any weather issues. This can make your workout environment more controlled, which can be a good thing if you value a consistent workout environment over nature.

Now I’ll discuss the cons of working out indoors.

Cons of Working Out Indoors

The biggest cons of working out indoors is that you don’t get to enjoy the peacefulness of nature, & you also may get distracted more easily.

• No Peacefulness of Nature––If you workout indoors, you don’t get to experience the peacefulness of nature. If you don’t workout outdoors, then you’ll probably not get to enjoy the mindful & peaceful state that nature gives you.
• More Distractions––If you workout indoors, you may experience more distractions. You may look at your phone more often, worry about if someone will take your machine when you go to the bathroom, etc. This could slow down the overall efficiency & effectiveness of your workouts. But, if you work out outdoors, then you most likely wouldn’t encounter these distractions.

Now I’ll help you figure out if you should workout outdoors or indoors based on your goals.

Should I Workout Outdoors or Indoors?

If you prefer the peacefulness of nature, & don’t want to pay for a gym either, workout outdoors. If you’d prefer a more controlled environment with more exercises to choose from, workout indoors in a gym.

The truth is that it doesn’t matter which side you choose as long as you’re going to work out & progress your workouts over time.

Really, the only difference is that one side is going to be more accessible than the other.

How to Work Out Outside Safely

If you’re going to workout outside, ensure that you wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and closed-toe shoes. This will help protect you from the elements and prevent you from getting wet during heavy rain.

You should also bring an umbrella or a hat to shield yourself from the sun. 

Als remember when you’re exercising outside, there are many potential hazards that you need to avoid.

For example, there are wild animals that could pose a threat to you or your workout partners. 

Also remember to watch out for some plants that have thorns, like roses or cacti, & any other plants that are otherwise dangerous like poison ivy so you don’t get hurt whilst you workout.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you don’t want to pay for a gym & like the tranquility of nature, you should workout outdoors. But, if you’d prefer to have more exercise selection & a more controlled environment, you should workout indoors. But, at the end of the day, as long as you’re exercising and progressing over time, that’s all that matters.

If you want to learn if you should do full-body workouts or body part split workouts, here’s my article where I discuss the benefits of both sides & which one you should choose.