In a world full of screens, outdoor activities can feel like an escape. But it has a wide-reaching impact on your health, like improving focus and mood, boosting immunity, and reducing stress levels.
Getting yourself in the outdoors is a simple yet powerful activity. You can sit in a park during your lunch break or explore other green spaces in your neighborhood. But as with all things, it’s important to remember that moderation is vital. Spending a little time with mother nature every day can be easier said than done. So you should consider starting small and commit to a few hours outdoors every week.
In this article, we shall explore what health benefits can be gained by spending time outdoors and in nature.
1. Reduces Stress
Can you imagine the impact of spending time in nature on your mind and body? It has the potential to reduce your stress hormone levels, thus helping maintain blood pressure and relieve depression and anxiety.
The world is full of intrusive stimuli that can be draining on our mental health. Taking a break in nature is one of the best stress relief methods as it allows our minds to rest and restores our mental energy.
Going for a walk is an easy and quick de-stressor. Or sit on a park swing and enjoy the relaxing to-and-fro movement of your body. Alternatively, book a camping trip and immerse yourself in nature for longer.
2. Improves Sleep
Being outdoors has been shown to improve sleep in a variety of ways, from fresh air and sunlight exposure helping to regulate melatonin production and circadian rhythms to outdoor exercise that helps in the process of stress relief and often aids in getting a good night’s sleep.
Exercise in nature also releases feel-good hormones called endorphins that help to relax and de-stress your body, making it easier to get a good night’s rest. Spending time in green spaces is known as nature therapy as it bolsters mental wellness, improving focus and attention.
3. Decreases Inflammation
Decreased inflammation is one of the very rare health benefits of spending time in nature. It can help you find relief from many chronic or autoimmune conditions like arthritis and cardiovascular diseases.
Exposure to sunlight can help improve your vitamin D levels, further enhancing your immune system strength and promoting calcium absorption in your bones.
4. Reduces Risk of Myopia
Myopia is mostly genetic, but did you know spending more time outdoors reduces the risk of developing it? This holds especially true for children of myopic parents, as their chances of myopia development are significantly reduced by spending more than two hours a day outdoors.
One theory is that outdoor activity encourages you to look at objects that are at a distance rather than close up. This can help prevent the excessive use of near vision that spurs myopia. Nature therapy promotes eye health by staying outside in the sun to have more Vitamin D exposure.
5. Improves Immune System
Medical research articles state that a person’s immunity can improve with regular exposure to nature. Even outdoors can stimulate the body’s production of endorphins and serotonin, which helps reduce stress levels.
Exercise in nature also boosts the immune system because outdoor workouts help the body absorb Vitamin D from sunlight. This is a crucial immune-boosting ingredient that helps increase the strength of white blood cells, which fight infection and disease.
Being outside also promotes social interaction, decreasing anxiety levels and the stress hormone cortisol. So enjoy the beautiful weather and your local park, beach, or forest!
6. Increases Social Interaction
A growing number of children prefer to spend less time outdoors than in previous generations. Researchers have termed this decrease in interaction with nature as nature deficit disorder, which is linked to various health problems.
Outdoor physical activities are a great way to meet people and form social connections. Participating in outdoor sports and recreational activities promotes mental well-being. Staying close to nature for some time in a day can also make you feel happier and more satisfied with life than those who don’t.
Even non-physical activity in natural and green spaces positively affects social connectedness. The frequency of visits to parks and other outdoor public recreation areas also correlated with youths’ pro-environmental attitudes.
7. Increases Physical Activity
Whether hiking, swimming, playing sports, or just strolling along the beach, staying outside can increase physical health and fitness. Outdoor exercise is better and more beneficial than indoor exercise.
It’s no secret that physical exercise is essential for your overall well-being. But did you know that the type of workouts you do, and your environment, can greatly impact the results you will achieve?
Final Thoughts
Sometimes we just forget to remind ourselves about the world that exists beyond our window. Cultivating a habit of spending a few hours with nature and outdoor activity can greatly boost your physical and mental well-being. It can help you to strengthen your bond with mother nature. So don’t stop yourself next time when you have the urge to spend some time in nature.