As summer gets rolling, everyone is looking forward to spending some time outdoors. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just starting to get your feet wet, everyone can benefit from spending time in nature.
In this post, I'll explore the benefits of spending time outdoors for both our mental health and overall well-being.
Outdoor Activities for Mental Health
Here are some examples of what you can gain by spending time in nature.
Increased Focus
Getting your feet wet with outdoor activities is great way to start building a new habit, like going outside to garden instead of surfing the internet. This is a great way to build focus for the rest of your day.
Improve Concentration
When you are enjoying an outdoor activity like gardening or hiking, you are focused on a single task. It's easy to concentrate on what you are doing and lose track of everything else that happens around you. As a result, you are likely to experience an increased sense of concentration.
Feel Good About Yourself
There is a large body of evidence that suggests that spending time in nature has a positive impact on self-esteem. Being out in the fresh air provides many health benefits including less stress, less anxiety, and increased energy levels. Feeling good about yourself is another benefit of spending time in nature.
Increase Happiness
According to a 2014 study, people that spent time in nature experienced a greater sense of happiness than those who didn't. In other words, spending time in nature can improve your overall mood!
Increase Creativity
According to a 2008 study, people who spent time outside were found to be more creative than others. In fact, a 2014 study suggested that being outside for just 30 minutes was enough to improve your creativity.
Outdoor Activities for Well-Being
It's well-known that spending time outdoors is a great way to reduce stress. In this section, we'll explore how you can use outdoor activities to lower stress, boost your immunity, and reduce your heart rate.
Reduce Stress
Spending time outdoors in the sun helps reduce stress levels. Just spending a few minutes outdoors every day will help your body produce vitamin D, which has many health benefits. In addition to that, the sunlight helps to balance your mood, so you're less likely to become depressed.
Boost Immunity
The outdoors contains a large number of microorganisms and pathogens. That's why it's important to take precautions in order to prevent disease.
Reduce Heart Rate
When you spend time outside, the air has a much higher level of oxygen than inside. The higher the level of oxygen, the faster your heart rate will drop. If you feel like your heart is beating too fast, you can reduce it by walking or cycling outside.