Guest Post by Rob Woods
There’s something about being outdoors that has a rejuvenating effect on the body. The combination of fresh air, abundant greenery, and sunshine makes you feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally. You feel relaxed, refreshed, invigorated, and optimistic. In fact, spending time outside bolsters the body’s ability to heal itself and helps restore your ability to get regular, restful sleep.
Time outside also restores your appetite and gives you the energy you need to get enough exercise. It’s why so many rehabilitation centers now emphasize programs that involve lots of outdoor activity.
If you’re looking for more reasons to spend time outdoors, Stonyboot invites you to read on.
Get your vitamins
Those who spend a lot of time outside benefit from the sunlight because it’s an abundant source of vitamin D. It’s also been found effective at helping people fight off the symptoms of depression. Vitamin D has been proven effective at helping people battle cancer and an array of infectious diseases. Solius suggests getting a balance of sunlight every day, about 20 minutes or so without sunscreen, so that your body can synthesize the vitamin D that it needs from direct sunlight.
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Exercise & depression
It’s easier to get a good workout outdoors in the fresh air, where you have much more freedom of movement and more exercise options. Being outside promotes physical activity and encourages you to engage in exercise because it makes you feel good, stimulating chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin in the brain.
You also tend to use more of your body’s energy by exercising outdoors, and you’re likely to burn more fat by engaging in activities like kayaking, hiking, and swimming. If you have a dog, you have a built-in exercise partner who’s delighted to go for a hike or a run in the woods. If the time on the water is where you’re happiest, commit to regular multiple days a week at your favorite water spot.
If you find you don’t have ready access to outdoor activities you might consider moving to a location with ready access to outdoor exercise areas, like walking and biking trails or parks. There are plenty of rental properties that include houses and apartments within close proximity of green spaces, so search online and check out the maps and local listings.
It might sound silly, but sometimes gifting yourself new gear serves as a great motivation booster. Whether it’s a new paddle or vest for canoeing, a new pack for hiking, new trail shoes, or something as simple as a sporty watch band. Small splurges like this can inspire us to want to spend more time outside.
Breathe deeply
Have you ever wondered why walking in the woods puts a pep in your step? Going for a stroll or a bike ride among the trees are healthful activities because trees produce high concentrations of oxygen. Breathing in all that pure air imparts a natural feeling of well-being that makes you feel better about everything.
Fresh air with high concentrations of oxygen also helps clean out your lungs, which are often exposed to poor indoor air quality that contains benzene, xylene, and other toxins that leave you vulnerable to a host of cardiovascular and respiratory problems. Also, heavy breathing is one way to trick your body to shred undue stress.
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Deep sleep
Breathing in all that clean, fresh air is a definite sleep aid, a benefit that holds many residual benefits. Sleep is vital because it helps your body heal naturally. Spending a lot of time outside puts you back in touch with natural biorhythms, which induce a more restful, recuperative sleep.
Happier outdoors
Many sleep experts believe that vitamin D helps ward off depression, according to Sharp Health News. In fact, some studies have shown a link between time spent outside and a reduction in depression and anxiety. (Depression treatment therapies often include the use of vitamin D supplement pills.) People who spend a lot of time outside tend to be more upbeat and concentrate better because a change of scenery is considered helpful in boosting the brain’s cognitive abilities.
Exercise and the mental benefits that come from being outdoors have a healing effect on the human body. You exercise and sleep better, therefore you feel better and are more effective during the day. That’s a powerful advantage for boosting your overall wellness.
A big thank you to our guest writer Rob Woods at https://fixitdads.com/