11/02/2022
People are drawn to the outdoors. During those long, sun-filled days of summer, we can’t wait to get out and enjoy a day at the park, a hike in the woods or a trip to the beach.
But the joy that being outside brings into our lives offers more than just the fleeting happiness that comes with the scent of the flowers or the feeling of grass between your toes. Incorporating the outdoors into your life can improve your health in every way, both physically and emotionally – and there’s a lot of science out there that shows just how far the benefits can go.
Spending time outdoors, particularly in green spaces, positively impacts stress, blood pressure, mood and overall mental health. A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research shows that spending as little as twenty minutes a day in a park or green space can improve wellbeing. Every day, scientists are discovering more about the impact nature has on our overall wellbeing, and while there’s plenty of research still to be done, what we do know should inspire you to get outside.
HAPPINESS IS A BIG BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Being outside is a big mood booster. There’s the feeling of a nice breeze on your skin or the smell of nature all around. But researchers from Harvard believe that sunlight has a lot to do with the happiness that’s created when we step outside. Light has been shown to improve mood with the most beneficial source being the natural light of the sun. And the sun is more than just a mood booster
– it can actually help you heal physically. In one study, people recovering from surgery experienced less pain and stress – and took fewer medications
– when they were exposed to natural light.
OUR BODIES ARE NOURISHED BY THE WORLD AROUND US
When sunlight hits your skin, it kickstarts a process that creates and activates vitamin D. This crucial nutrient has been shown to help promote good bone health, mood and cardiovascular function. But don’t get too much of a good thing. While the sun has many benefits, overexposure can damage your skin, so be sure to wear sunscreen and spend plenty of time in the shade.