Do you know the positive effects that nature, fresh air & being outside can have on your mental/physical health?
Studies show that being outdoors, bringing a bit of nature into your lifestyle and spending time in green spaces have been proven to benefit both mental and physical wellbeing. It’s amazing how being outdoors for a small amount of time daily can be a facilitator in changing perspective, have calming properties and allow you to see things differently.
Have you ever been really stressed about something and it seemed like the end of the world at the time.
For example, you open a work email and it isn’t exactly what you wanted to hear at that time. Suddenly your stress sky rockets through the roof, heart rate elevates, teeth grit together and it becomes all you can think about? OR you come back after a busy day, tired and hungry to find out there's no food in. Your partner forgot to go food shopping and on top of that the house is a tip. Suddenly got 10000 jobs to do at home and it seems like the end of the world?
Sounds all too familiar right? I bet you can think of a similar situation that’s happened to you too. Now, have you ever been for a small walk or gone out in the garden briefly for a breather to collect your thoughts? I'm willing to put money on the fact that you felt a LOT better after right? Sometimes the change of scenery's all that's needed to give you a completely new perspective.
How can getting outdoors actually help though?
☘️ It can improve mood and reduce feelings of stress.
☘️ Can be a way to improve/work on physical fitness and a method of becoming more active daily. It doesn’t have to be going for a 26 mile run or vigorously strenuous exercise- things like gardening, walking with colleagues on your lunch break, walking your dog or going to the beach all count too!
☘️ Use it as a form of relaxation. Research into eco-therapy [basically planned activities outdoors in nature] have shown it can help with mild-moderate cases of depression and management of anxiety [MindOrg Uk, 2018]. Listening to a podcast or music whilst sitting/walking/being outdoors can be incredibly relaxing and opportunity to clear the mind.
☘️ Exposing ourselves to sunlight gives us the chance to top Vitamin-D levels. Public Health England suggest that adults should have 10mcg of Vitamin-D every day. Now living in the UK, we aren’t blessed with the most tropical weather and so roughly 1 out of 5 people has a Vitamin-D deficiency. Low Vitamin-D has a negative impact on mood, fatigue levels, bone and skin health. ☘️ You can make your outdoor time into social time too. Meet up with friends, go for a walk, bike ride, taking a trip out somewhere. There are SO many options out there, so get creative and reach out to someone you know to arrange something!
Try thinking of ways you can get outside more often today! Small changes make a big difference in the long run!
Comments