With new developments in technology and smartphones that can do everything for us, people are finding themselves spending significantly less time outdoors. Whether we’re falling into never ending Netflix binge, playing video games, or are just stuck in a YouTube time-warp, it has become disturbingly easy to seldom leave the indoors.
Getting outside and enjoying some fresh air is proven to be both relaxing and beneficial for our health. It is important to spend quality time outdoors. Here are five reasons why you should make it a point to spend more time with Mother Nature:
Stress and Anxiety Relief
Stress and anxiety are common, all-too-familiar themes amongst most hard-working folks today. So, how can we combat these unpleasant feelings? Maybe we just need to spend more time outside.
In Japan, they found that forest bathing (walking amongst trees) helps people have lower levels of cortisol as well as lower heart rates and blood pressure. Even a little time outside each day can be beneficial to your health. Try taking a walk outside during your lunch break or set aside time each day to get outside and unwind.
Great Source of Vitamin D
One of the biggest pandemics is a deficiency in Vitamin D. We can get Vitamin D from the foods we eat, but generally these foods don’t contain nearly enough of the vitamin to meet the recommended amounts. Getting enough Vitamin D is important for your health and the sun is the biggest source of Vitamin D, so spending less time inside and more time outside can help improve your health.
Boosts Your Immune System
People often reminisce about the way they always played outside in the dirt as children. Crafting mud pies and coming home for dinner as filthy as can be. These same people will also tell you that they rarely ever got sick. Was there a correlation? Does spending time outside help us avoid getting sick? Studies have proven that the more time you spend outside, the stronger your immune system will be. Even smells from the outdoors have a positive impact on the body. So, if you feel run down a lot or get sick often, maybe some time outside is the medicine you need.
Improves Mental Health
The winter months can be difficult. Seasonal affective disorder affects many people and is rooted in spending so much time without natural sunlight. Sunlight increases the production of endorphins in the brain which helps to boost our mood, but people tend to not go outside as often in winter because of the challenges presented by colder climates. Being outside, especially all year-round, helps you feel good about yourself and improves your mental health.
Improves Vision
You may have been told by a peer or family member that keeping your face buried in your laptop or smartphone for hours a day is bad for your eyes. It’s no wonder that spending so much time staring at bright, backlit screens can make our vision seem fuzzy. It’s hard to deny that spending more time outside is probably a welcome retreat for your eyes.