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.‬