Why a morning run is good for you

Just getting out there to breathe the air will do you a world of good.

It's a great time of year to live in Australia. For most of us, we can expect sun and warmer weather – the perfect conditions to get up and get moving.

A study from the Universities of Exeter and Essex looked at the effects of running outside compared to using a treadmill. The study found that the people running outdoors said they felt more revitalised, engaged, relaxed and more likely to go running again at a later date, compared to those using a treadmill.

So why stay cooped up indoors? The world is your treadmill. Let's look at the added benefits of pulling you trainers on and heading out into the great outdoors.

Sunlight plays an important role in telling your body when to wake up and when to sleep. This is known as your circadian rhythm.

Serotonin and melatonin are neurochemicals in your brain that play important roles in regulating your sleep, your appetite and balancing your mood. Your body releases them throughout the day to tell you when it's time to eat, sleep or to balance your mood. If your body doesn't create serotonin and melatonin at the right times, you can have trouble sleeping, have mood swings or struggle keeping a regular circadian rhythm.

Studies have shown that getting outdoors in natural light is a great way of producing serotonin and melatonin in your body.

Simply put, light levels are measured in lux, and indoor light usually measures between one and 1,000 lux, whereas a bright sunny day outside (like we have at the moment) can be 100,000 lux or more. Going out for a morning run will tell your body to wake up and get moving for the day.

Going out for a run can also be great for your brain performance – all that visual and audio stimulation can help your brain process information and connect new synapses in a process called neuroplasticity.

The key to helping your brain stay agile is trying new things, experiencing new environments and challenging yourself. If you're going to go running in your local area, try not to get into a rut. Make sure you vary your runs. If you're looking for ideas, here are some ways to mix it up:

Try out different routes. Running in the same area can become monotonous, and that's why we're going outside instead of using a treadmill.

Try running at different times. Running in the morning and running at night will be very different experiences and help push your fitness further. It means you'll have to contend with different amounts of traffic, new sounds, smells and other people, this can help keep you focused for the length of your run.

Map out your trip. Keep track of how far you go and where you go, then compare these to track your progress. You can do this with one of any number of mobile or wearable apps.

Multitask. Just because you're running doesn't mean you can't learn French or practice long-division at the same time. Running is a great opportunity to occupy your conscious mind with podcasts, audio books or audio lessons.