I've been spending a lot of time outdoors lately, and I thought I'd share a few tips. These three things are the best natural remedies I know.
1 Sunlight
We all know that exposure to sunlight improves our mood. There are plenty of studies showing that, but they don't tell us why it works.
Well, a recent study by the University of Utah suggests that it may have something to do with our brains' production of serotonin. Serotonin levels are often referred to as the "feel good" hormone.
If you're wondering why serotonin is important, this may help: Serotonin helps control our mood, appetite, sleep patterns, and more. Low levels are linked to depression, suicide, and more.
Here's where the sun comes in: It raises serotonin levels by increasing vitamin D. Vitamin D is also known as "the sunshine vitamin." It helps prevent bone loss, keeps bones strong, helps treat asthma, cancer, and more.
A lot of us are deficient in vitamin D, so getting some sunshine regularly is a great way to fix that. I've heard from countless people who noticed a dramatic improvement in their mood when they spent time outdoors during the summer months.
Now, I know that sunlight doesn't cure depression. But if you spend your days indoors, spending some time outside can do wonders.
(2) Trees
Speaking of trees, we all know that being near nature is beneficial for our health. But how?
There's actually a lot of evidence supporting this theory, but I'll focus on two reasons in particular.
The first reason is that trees absorb carbon dioxide. They also clean the air and water around them, which in turn helps prevent allergies. And if you think about it, that's kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy: the more healthy the air and water is, the more likely you are to breathe and drink clean air and water.
The second reason is that plants can give off endorphins. Endorphins are the same "feel good" hormones that sunshine gives us. Being near the outdoors gives us that little boost of happiness.
(3) Green Space
This last tip isn't really about nature per se. It's more about the benefits of simply being in nature. We know that nature has positive effects on our mental well-being, but most of us live in cities where we don't have access to much green space.
So here's a suggestion that might help you change that: Take some time every day to leave your apartment and go outside. Even if you just take a walk around the block, you're going to feel better.
The reason: A new study by the University of Michigan shows that even short walks in nature boost happiness.
According to the researchers, this happens because spending time in nature is more relaxing than spending time indoors. It doesn't matter what the weather is, the research showed.
Regardless of what you choose to spend your time doing.