Summer has arrived and the great outdoors beckons. Succumb to it and you’ll enjoy the physical and mental health benefits.
Here are good reasons to get outdoors:
- Your vitamin D levels rise. Sunlight hitting the skin begins a process that leads to the creation and activation of vitamin D. Vitamin D helps fight certain conditions, from osteoporosis and cancer to depression and heart attacks. Remember that excessive exposure to sunlight also has its down side.
- Secondly, spending time outdoors ensures that you’ll get more exercise. If you make getting outside a goal, that should mean less time in front of the television and computer and more time walking and doing other things that put the body in constant motion.
- Thirdly, you’ll be happier. Light has a tendency to greatly improve people’s mood, and there’s usually more light available outside than in. Physical activity has been shown to help people relax and cheer up, so if being outside replaces inactive pursuits with active ones, it might also mean more smiles.
- Also, spending time outdoors proves to make a drastic improvement to concentration levels. It has been observed in a number of studies that children with ADHD seem to focus better after being outdoors. It might be a stretch to say that applies to adults, but if you have trouble concentrating, outdoor activity may help.
- Finally, spending time outdoors helps us heal faster. In one study, people recovering from spinal surgery experienced less pain and stress and took fewer pain medications when they were exposed to natural light. An older study showed that the view out the window (trees vs. a brick wall) helped recovery in the hospital.
So here is the cue you need; take up a hobby and enjoy the warm sunshine by cycling, taking a walk in the park or city center and breathe in summer’s fresh air. Enjoy life and be healthier for it.
To your success,
Susan