It’s true that the benefits of staying outdoors have been long debated. Some people argue that it’s a waste of time, while others believe being outside is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But what are some benefits you may not know about? Studies show that spending time in nature can help lower stress levels and increase happiness by releasing endorphins into your system. It also helps to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
We all know that spending time outdoors is good for us, but it’s hard to make a habit of doing so. It can be difficult to find the motivation and willpower to get outside on a regular basis. Most people don’t have enough free time in their daily schedules, and even if they do, going outside doesn’t always feel like an appealing option.
Most of the time, it’s hard to take a break from work or school when you’re swamped with assignments and deadlines. You might be tempted to stay indoors where it’s comfortable, but being outside has some amazing health benefits! Being in nature can improve your mood, reduce stress levels, boost creativity and productivity as well as help you sleep better at night by reducing cortisol levels.
Therefore, you need to spend as much time outdoors as possible. You can do this by building an oak gazebo, a patio, or simply working on your garden every day. It doesn’t necessarily have to equate to going to different places just to be able to spend time outdoors. Your home’s outdoor areas will suffice.
Benefits of Staying Outdoors
Spending time outdoors is good for you, but sometimes people forget to do it. Research shows that spending just 15 minutes outside each day could improve your health. There are so many benefits to being outside and taking in the fresh air. Below are some benefits of spending time outdoors:
- Spending time outdoors can lower your stress levels: This is because fresh air and sunlight are natural mood-lifters. Therefore, it is very easy to eliminate stress if you spend time outdoors and expose yourself to these elements.
- Being outside benefits your mental health: You will feel less stressed and more at peace with yourself when you’re in a beautiful outdoor setting. This can also help to clear up any negative thinking patterns that might cause depression or anxiety. Therefore, spending time outdoors is good for your mental health.
- Spending time outdoors improves your physical well-being: Your heart rate slows down and you intake more oxygen when you’re outside. This benefits your heart because it decreases blood pressure, reduces stress, and helps to get rid of bad cholesterol in the bloodstream. It is advisable for people to spend at least 30 minutes outside each day to get these benefits.
- Spending time outdoors improves your mood: You will feel less stressed and more at peace with yourself when you’re in a beautiful outdoor setting. This can also help you unwind and take a break from the hustle and bustle of work.
- Spending time outdoors benefits your creativity: You’re more likely to have new ideas when you’re outside because the fresh air and the sunlight can help stimulate the right side of your brain. As a result, you’ll have a greater sense of creativity and you might become inspired to start painting, sculpting, or writing.
- Spending time outdoors increases vitamin D production in the body because of exposure to sunlight: Vitamin D is beneficial for fighting off illnesses like bronchitis or pneumonia. When your body gets a healthy dose of Vitamin D, it can boost your immune system and help you to stay healthy.
- Spending time outdoors benefits the lungs: Research has shown that people who live in rural areas have healthier lung functions than those living in urban, polluted cities. The air outside is often cleaner which means more oxygen reaches deeper into the lungs for better long-term health benefits.
Clearing Your Mind and Improving Your Physical Health
People take the outdoors for granted because it is always there. As people spend more time inside, they are becoming less healthy and their moods deteriorate. Spending time outdoors benefits your physical health because it allows you to take a break from all the stress in life.
In addition, the healing powers of nature are a well-known and documented subject. Spending time outdoors benefits your mental health because it can help you relax which, in turn, helps improve your overall mood and helps reduce anxiety, depression, stress, and anger.
Therefore, you will stand to benefit a lot by just spending a couple of minutes outdoors. Spending time outdoors serves as a way to keep yourself healthy and happy all the time.
