Author: Live Well San Diego Data Team

Time in Nature Can Reduce Stress

While many people may recognize the physical benefit of outdoor activities, spending time in nature has also been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, leading to a calmer and more peaceful state of mind.  San Diego County's natural landscapes offer a tranquil environment that can help you find inner peace and rejuvenation, allowing you to feel more present and centered in your daily life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical activity can make you feel and function better (by reducing overall stress, blood pressure, and improve cognitive function), and sleep better.

Enjoying the Outdoors with Friends Amplifies Well-Being

Outdoor physical activity is not only a way to improve your own health but also a means of building stronger communities. San Diego County has a vibrant outdoor culture, with numerous fitness groups and outdoor clubs that offer opportunities to connect with others who share a passion for healthy living. Engaging in outdoor activities with others can foster a sense of camaraderie and belonging, helping you build stronger social connections and support networks.

San Diego County enjoys a lot of park space, and many residents have access to outdoor parks. 

San Diego County's natural landscapes are a treasure trove of outdoor activities that can enhance your quality of life in countless ways. From improving your physical health to boosting your mental well-being and building stronger communities, outdoor physical activity has the power to transform your life in ways you may never have imagined. So why not take advantage of this incredible opportunity and discover the many benefits of engaging in outdoor physical activity in San Diego County today?

Free Resources to Kickstart Your Next Outdoor Adventure

California State Library Parks Pass

While most trails provide free parking, some may require a parking fee. This pass allows for free parking at certain State Parks. You can now check out a FREE vehicle day-use pass at your local public library. California public library-card holders can check out the State Library Parks Pass via their local public library. If you don’t have a library card, visit your local library to get one. The library card and park pass are free!

County of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department

The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation currently has a “First Time Camping Program” that provides free use of camping equipment and no-cost weekend reservations at two of their campgrounds: Dos Picos County Park and Tijuana River Valley Regional Park. To learn more or register for a free camping opportunity, please visit the San Diego County Parks website.  

Looking for a park? Click here to locate a park near you.

Live Well San Diego Recognized Partner Spotlight: Outdoor Outreach

Outdoor Outreach connects San Diego youth ages 9-24 whose communities have been impacted by social inequities to outdoor activities. Their programs are designed to provide youth with the necessary tools to face their unique challenges and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Some of their key initiatives include positive youth development, workforce development, environmental education and outdoor advocacy. If you would like to get involved, please visit Outdoor Outreach’s website to learn more.

Indicator Series: Quality of Life

The Top 10 Live Well San Diego Indicators define what it means to live well in San Diego. Measured across the lifespan among all residents, the indicators capture the collective impact of programs, services and interventions provided by government and community partners striving to improve quality of life so that all San Diego County residents can be healthy, safe and thriving. The Quality of Life indicator measures the percentage of the population sufficiently healthy to live independently. Efforts by the community and Live Well San Diego partners have been moving this indicator in the right direction by implementing programs and events to improve health behavior changes.

One way Live Well San Diego encourages the improvement of quality of life is to engage in physical activity by spending more time outdoors.

Getting San Diego Data is Easy!

To access the University of San Diego’s Equinox Project’s Quality of Life dashboard, visit the website at  Equinox Project's Quality of Life Dashboard - School of Leadership and Education Sciences - University of San Diego to review publicly available data. 

Additionally, you can find more data at our County of San Diego Data Portal website.

Our open data program encourages the use of public data that the County of San Diego has published to spark innovation, promote public collaboration, increase government transparency, and inform decision making.

I’d Like to Know More

The Live Well San Diego Team specialists who publish data news stories are dedicated public health professionals. For more news stories, please refer to our department website.