The start of summer has officially arrived. Between vacations, barbeques, outdoor sports and more time spent outside the office, this can be the most relaxing season of the year. To get the most stress-relieving benefits out of these next few months, bring tension-busting activities like cardio exercise, meditation and yoga outside: Access to green space has been linked with less stress, while exposure to sunlight might also reduce blood pressure and improve overall health, according to a small study published earlier this year.


Click through the slideshow below for six ways to enjoy the outdoors and reduce stress during the summer season, then tell us: What's your favorite outdoor stress reliever? Share your thoughts in the comments below or tweet @HealthyLiving.






  • Walk In The Park


    Taking a 30-minute stroll through the park can shift your mind into a state of zen. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/green-space-meditation-brain-walk-park_n_2964199.html" target="_blank">Recent U.K. research</a> found that walking through green spaces can help put the brain into a state of meditation.




  • Gardening


    Gardening can be a form of meditation that allows you to spend time in nature while immersing yourself in a calming activity. One study from the Netherlands found that gardening can decrease cortisol levels and boost mood among people who had just completed a stressful task. Even 30 minutes of leisure reading didn't provide the same stress-relieving benefits, <a href="http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20507878_2,00.html" target="_blank">Health.com reported</a>.




  • Yoga In The Park


    Yoga can be an effective <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/05/relaxation-gene-response-yoga-meditation-stress_n_3195257.html" target="_blank">stress reliever</a>, and you can make your practice even more relaxing during the summer by moving outside. Bring your mat to a park in the morning when it's quiet and practice <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/06/10-yoga-poses-for-stress-_n_3000801.html" target="_blank">these stress-busting yoga moves</a>, or find a local studio that offers "Yoga in the Park" classes.




  • Take The Dog Out


    In addition to enjoying the tension-busting advantages of walking in nature, spending time with a pet can also help ease anxiety and calm the mind. A <a href="https://www.calvin.edu/~rpruim/courses/m143/articles/PetstressArticle.pdf" target="_blank">2002 SUNY Buffalo study</a> found that conducting difficult tasks becomes less stressful when a pet is present. "While the idea of a pet as social support may appear to some as a peculiar notion, our participants' responses to stress, combined with their descriptions of the meaning of pets in their lives, suggest to us that social support can indeed cross species," <a href="https://www.calvin.edu/~rpruim/courses/m143/articles/PetstressArticle.pdf" target="_blank">writes lead author Karen Allen, Ph.D.,</a> in the study published in the journal <em>Psychosomatic Medicine</em>.




  • Explore A New Bike Path


    This is one summer activity that's good for the mind <em>and</em> the body, especially outside on a sunny day. Physical activity -- and cardio exercise in particular -- can boost self-confidence and <a href="http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=554844" target="_blank">improve symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety</a>, on top of the added benefits of being outdoors.




  • Outdoor Meditation


    Mindfulness meditation has been shown to lower levels of the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/31/mindfulness-meditation-cortisol-stress-levels_n_2965197.html" target="_blank">stress hormone cortisol</a> -- and spending time in nature <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494405801847" target="_blank">can also slash anxiety</a>. Find a quiet spot in your backyard or the park and try this <a href="http://cdn.franticworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Sounds-and-thoughts-meditation-from-book-Mindfulness-Finding-Peace-in-a-Frantic-World-128k.mp3" target="_blank">"Sounds and Thoughts" meditation</a> from Mindfulness author Danny Penman. The guided meditation can help you to calm your mind by shifting attention to the ambient sounds around you.