5 Health Benefits to Enjoying the Outdoors
As the weather starts to get nicer and the days get longer many people like to spend their lunch breaks and evenings outside in the outdoors. After a year of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, the ability to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
Getting outside isn’t just refreshing and a nice break from the walls of your home. Being outdoors is actually incredible for your health. Getting out in nature for improved mood and health is referred to in the Japanese culture as “forest bathing”. The idea is to spend time outdoors under any type of tree canopy in an effort to immerse yourself in greenery. Whatever you choose to call it or however you choose to practice it, getting out in nature is good for you. Here are 5 health benefits to getting outside and enjoying the sunshine and fresh air.
Having an improved mood and focus can benefit your work, social and personal life.
1. Improved Mood & Focus
Being out in nature has been found to improve a person's mood both in the short term as well as in the long term for more severe mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Many people believe that it’s a direct result of our biology - we were made to be creatures who lived outdoors, running in forests and breathing fresh air. Our brains are created to function better with fresh air and our bodies feel energized after we’ve been moving around. Being outdoors is truly an instilled part of human nature.
Wherever it comes from, it’s clear that this is not a placebo effect. Scientific studies have witnessed the impact that nature and exploration to nature has on our brains and bodies. Getting outside can revive our attention-keeping and increase creativity. This is especially true if the time spent outside involves leaving cellphones and electronics at home.
Some other brain benefits to being outside include improved short-term memory, increased focused, a boosted immune system and a more grounded sense of self.
2. Lowered Blood Pressure & Heart Rate
Blood pressure is a complex part of the human body: too low and your body won't carry blood to vital organs fast enough causing fainting, dizziness and in extreme cases organ failure while high blood pressure puts excess strain on the heart, can cause headaches, irregular heartbeats, difficulty breathing and chest pain. As a general rule, however, low blood pressure is considered the more healthy of the two, as long as it stays within a certain range. Lower blood pressure is considered better, however, because its telling to the health of your heart.
High blood pressure can be causes by being overweight, eating an unhealthy diet, simply by getting older and even stress. This is the most likely reason why being in nature is good for your heart. Nature is calming and reduces anxiety and stress. The less stressed your body is the more relaxed it becomes. Relaxed bodies don’t have to work as hard to pump blood. This is one of the physical symptoms that has been seen in many studies when researching the impact of nature on our health.
3. Improved Sleep Quality
Getting outside can seriously impact your sleep - in a positive way! Higher O2 levels, natural light and burning extra calories all contribute to improved sleep after being outside.
Breathing fresh air replenishes your O2 levels. High levels of oxygen in the body can help your brain remain in a deeper and restorative sleep for longer. At the same time, the exposure to natural sunlight can balance out your sleep system and melatonin levels. The sun suppresses this hormone. When it sets, that’s the natural signal to your brain that it’s bedtime. That’s why after spending all day outside, you can feel tired as soon as it get’s dark.
Being outside, for many people, involves an added level of activity to the day. Whether it’s playing a sport, going for a walk, a hike or a bike ride, the added calories burned. With your body working at higher levels than normally, it naturally seeks that extra rest. More active days equal more restful nights.
If you’re looking to improve your sleep, then getting outside is the ticket.
4. Superhero Immune System & Healing Capabilities
Our immune systems and body-healing capabilities are improved by being outside. Scientists believe that some chemicals produced by plants - such as phytoncides - can increase our white blood cell counts. When we breath in fresh air while surrounded by forests, trees and plants, we inhale these chemicals that help us right infections and disease.
Vitamin D - also known as the sunlight vitamin - is also incredibly important for a healthy immune system, strong bones, blood cell health and mineral absorption. Getting outside regularity can ensure that you have this mineral in access.
For surface and flesh wounds, fresh air actually encourages the skin pores to open and “breathe” themselves. This helps to release any toxins or buildup that can cause skin infections or even acne.
5. Easy Exercise
Lastly, being outside is one of the most natural and easy ways to exercise. It only takes 30 minutes, 3 times a week to benefit from exercise. The biggest thing that blocks people from incorporating exercise into their daily habits is convenience. Using the outdoors to get in your workout is such an easy and enjoyable way to achieve this 30 minute X 3 days goal. A walk around the block, bike ride with friends or exploring a new hiking trail can easily take up 30 minutes a day.
Getting outside is perhaps one of the easiest ways to improve your overall health. From improved mood to lowered blood pressure and better sleep, your entire body benefits from enjoying the outdoors.