It’s not just a myth, being outside really is good for you. Here’s why it’s healthful to spend time outdoors.
- Walks in nature help your memory
- In general, exercise is great, but one study from the University of Michigan showed participants who took a memory test and then walked in nature did 20% better than those who took the test and then took a walk around the city.
- You feel happier
- According to one Finnish study, spending just 15 minutes sitting in nature helped people feel psychologically restored. Those results were even faster when they spent that time walking.
- Nature can literally heal
- One study shows that people exposed to more natural light healed faster from a spinal surgery and reportedly had less pain than others. It seems nature served as a natural drug for them, because they also took fewer pain medications.
- You can concentration better
- Taking a break in nature can improve your concentration by giving your brain a well-needed break. Leave your phone behind and let your mind unwind from the overstimulation so common with modern, busy life.
- It prompts weight loss
- Being outside may not be a magical diet pill all by itself, but it does tend to make exercise more enjoyable. Some aspects of outdoor exercise like hiking may help you lose weight in an unexpected way. Spending time at higher altitudes can speed up your metabolism and lower your appetite.
- Sunlight improves your supply of vitamin D
- Spending time in the sun helps your body create vitamin D, a vitamin that studies have shown may help prevent cancer, osteoporosis, and heart attacks.
- Nature reduces your stress
- Being in nature, even if just in your own neighborhood, can reduce stress in the body. Studies show spending time outdoors can lower your heart rate a symptom of stress.
- Helps you to stay young
- Want to age gracefully? Going outside every single day in nature may be the key. One study showed 70-year-old participants who spent time outside every single day had fewer complaints of common aging pains and is beneficial for everyone for physical and mental health.
- It strengthens your immune system
- A Japanese study showed women who spent six hours in nature over a two-day period increased their white blood cells, which fight virus, and the boost lasted about a week after the experiment.
- Benefits for your mental health
- Nature heals you in so many ways including your mental health. Multiple studies have linked nature walks with improved mental health.
