Put A Spring In Your Step

Getting outdoors into nature can have some profound benefits on your health

It Lifts Your Mood

Being active outdoors can replenish energy, sharpen your mind, boost mood, enhance wellbeing, and distract you from troubles. Vibrant scents, images and sounds combine to enhance your sensory experience, making you feel more alert and focusing your mind. Activities like gardening, wildlife identification, or walking can give you a buzz.

Make New Friends

Staying indoors can be isolating, but getting out into parks and beauty spots enables you to meet people and their pets in a healthy environment. People with few human connections are more likely to become stressed, ill, and live shorter lives than those who have lots of contact with people. A Swedish study showed that those of us who go out regularly live longer. So make a habit of engaging in social activities, walking, and connecting with nature.

Boost Your Vitamin D

Boost your vitamin D by getting outside in the sunshine, but don’t get burnt. The sun enables your body to synthesise vitamin D, which boosts your immune system, gives you strong bones and teeth, improves your mood, improves your body’s assimilation of vitamin A, and helps prevent diseases including osteoporosis, cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

Get Moving

Exercising outdoors can reduce stress and anxiety, and boost your levels of the “happy” chemicals in your brain including endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Even a gentle stroll has health benefits, and people who exercise outdoors typically burn more energy, enjoy it more, and exercise for longer, than people who exercise inside.

Fresh Air

There’s been a lot of news about air pollution recently, but studies show that being active outside is better for your health than not going out at all. A walk in the country will be much less polluted than a walk along a city road. So get out onto the hills for some fresh air and feel on top of the world!

Nature Deficit Disorder

We don’t get outside as much as we used to and many lead sedentary lifestyles in front of a sceen. “Nature Deficit Disorder” has been coined to recognise adverse affects of indoor lifestyles. While not a real medical condition, it does highlight an important point: we need to get out more! The Royal Horticultural Society says any green environment can attract wildlife and bring the benefits of the natural world into our lives. Some plants even help to reduce airbourne pollution.

Better Eye Health

Staring at a screen for long periods can cause eye problems, but getting outside to see the world at a greater distance can help keep your eyes healthy. In 2007, a US study showed that children with short-sighted parents were less likely to be short-sighted if they spent at least two hours every day outdoors. Children who spent under an hour outdoors were four times more likely to be short-sighted.

Grounding

Have you heard of grounding? It’s a controversial practice, popular among nature lovers. All you have to do is take your shoes and socks off so your feet have direct contact with a natural sur face, such as grass, sand or soil. Think of how great it feels to walk barefoot along a sandy beach and you can see the benefits. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine said that grounding can reduce inflammation and have an energising effect.

Better Sleep

Our internal body clock, the circadian rhythm, regulates sleep from the cycles of the sun. Too much time away from natural light can alter this cycle, leading to disturbed sleep. Those born blind often have trouble sleeping as they don’t have natural light to set their circadian rhythm. Time outside can help reset this sleep cycle.

Get Out More

What’s the best way to take advantage of the great outdoors? Why not join your local countryside conservation group, community gardening project, or join the Ramblers? Take part in local country restoration projects. Trek through woodlands and up hills. Photograph flowers and landscapes, developing new skills while being creative. It will make you feel more alive!