We all know that we feel good after doing something engaging and fulfilling. This briefing looks at the evidence for which kinds of activities have the best outcomes for our physical and mental health. Psychology and personal accounts from people who engage in different activities show that the best activities involve some key elements: they are challenging and absorbing; they give us a chance to express ourselves and be creative, they allow us to interact with the natural world; and they help us engage with other people. Doing activities in a group is likely to be better for you than doing them alone, but every person is different and in running activities we need to cater for people who prefer quiet and solitude as well as people who are more outgoing. In fact, how activities are run and who we do them with can be as important as what we’re doing.
