5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF HAVING AN OUTDOOR LIVING AREA
According to studies, people spend about 90% of their day indoors. This is due to work, school, or just being inside the car during travel, which is totally understandable. That ultimately means we only spend around 10% of our time outdoors, and we’re definitely missing out a lot.
Right now, in the age of the pandemic’s self-distancing and stay-at-home protocols, there’s never been a better time and a bigger need for the benefits of nature.
Here are just some of the many benefits of spending time outdoors.
Breathe in fresh and cleaner air
Contrary to popular belief that air pollution is worse outside with all the smoke and haze we can see, the air inside our homes and offices can actually be 2-5 times worse. This is due to dust, molds, carbon monoxide, and chemicals from pesticides, household products, and even skincare items.
Although these are actually things that we cannot see, they are very much existent, and can bring more damage to us health-wise where the air is just boxed in and just circling around with no way to go out without proper ventilation. Unlike in the outdoors, where air can be circulated properly, you can actually take in and enjoy the merits of fresh and clean air.
Learned something new, right?
Improve our immune system
Staying indoors for long periods of time can have a negative impact on your immune health. Our immune system works best when challenged regularly, and that doesn’t happen when we spend most time indoors.
Healthy doses of nature will help prepare your body to fight, and here’s how it works.
When we breathe in the fresh air, we take in phytoncides, airborne chemicals that plants give off to protect themselves from insects and disease. When we breathe in these chemicals, our bodies respond by increasing the number of white blood cells called natural killer cells. These cells kill tumor and virus-infected cells in our bodies.
Need we say more?
Increase Vitamin D in our bodies
Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Our body also needs vitamin D to keep the nerves, muscles, and immune system working properly.
While there are many sources of vitamin D in food and supplements, the most readily available source is just right outside, AND IT’S FREE! All we have to do is step outside and enjoy some sun and fresh air.
Too busy with work and day-to-day living?
Luckily, as little as 15 minutes of sunshine a day can increase your vitamin D levels and help you feel better during those long hours indoors. And again, it’s all free.
Rests and relaxes the eyes
With the amount of time we spend indoors and in front of our electronic devices, our eyes can take a beating. We spend long hours looking at screens at close range, and most of the time we forget to relax our eyes. Taking the time off to look away and taking in some natural light can do wonders.
For children, spending more time outdoors has been linked to a decrease in the development of nearsightedness, while in adults, reducing screen time and unplugging outdoors has been known to reduce eye strain, stress and headaches associated with “computer vision syndrome.”
So yes, never forget to stop and relax your eyes. We all need it.
Improve your mood and focus
Finally, being outdoors is widely recognized as a general mood booster. For those suffering from depression, time in nature is frequently recommended. For those in high-stress jobs, it’s good for your mind and your health to take time to slow down. The outdoors is the perfect place to do that.
Studies have shown that spending time outdoors can reduce mental fatigue, increase creativity, and even improve your mental and physical well-being, so as simple as it sounds, a walk in the park can really do wonders for our mind and body.
BOTTOM LINE: Spending time outside is extremely beneficial, and unfortunately, most people aren’t doing it enough. Whether you suffer from stress or depression, spending more time outdoors can help increase your overall health.
