See the good in getting outside
I live in a northern state where we have winter for more months than we would like. In addition to the winter months being very long, they can also get extremely cold (like 50 below this winter!). So when temperatures start to warm and we have the option to be outside more, I take full advantage. Getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine is a great way to lift your mood. Outdoor activities increase happiness for me and help me find joy in daily living.
How do you spend your time outside?
There are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors. One of my favorite rooms of our house is our screened porch. Once the weather is warm enough, we tend to eat most of our meals outside on our porch. Somehow a lunch or dinner in the fresh air is more enjoyable and more special than an ordinary meal inside.
I’m also fortunate to have family members who live on a lake. Getting out in the fresh air to enjoy the lake – the views, the breeze, the boating and swimming activities – seems like it can instantly make any day better. Being on the water is a way for me to find distraction from the busyness of life and enjoy some quiet downtime.
Outdoor activities are good for your health
Did you know that being outside is good for your health? We’ve probably all heard about the benefit of Vitamin D that we get from the sun, but studies have also shown that being out in nature can decrease stress, lower blood pressure, increase energy and increase focus? Harvard researchers have found that being outside can improve your mental and physical health just from the amount of natural light you are exposed to.
How will you get outside?
Summertime is here and a whole new season is beginning! Train yourself to see the benefits of getting outdoors. Getting outside is something that is free and accessible to all, wherever you are. Take advantage of the season and the opportunities all around you to enjoy the great outdoors:
- Eat outside (at home or at a restaurant)
- Go for a walk
- Go hiking or biking
- Walk around your downtown
- Plant some flowers
- Take up a new outdoor hobby
- Go to the beach
- Take you dog outside to play or for a walk
- Take a break at work and spend a few minutes sitting outside
- Open up your windows to feel the fresh air and hear the sounds of nature
Challenge for this week:
When you are feeling low, take a moment to move yourself outside. See if the change of scenery can lift your mood. Enjoy the season, wherever you are, by immersing yourself in it.