June 20, 2024 | Netflix or nature? Amazon or the outdoors? Why should we choose apple picking over Apple Plus TV? Spending time in the great outdoors, even if it’s just a couple of hours, can improve your physical and mental health in a number of ways. According to a study by British researchers in the journal Scientific Reports in 2019, spending at least 120 minutes in nature per week can significantly boost your health and well-being. One activity to consider is birdwatching, which can increase concentration, reduce stress and improve your mood. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 96.3 million people engaged in birdwatching in 2022, with nearly 43 million people embarking on trips away from their homes to birdwatch, up from 18 million in 2011. The growing popularity can be attributed to the fact that it is a relatively inexpensive and widely accessible hobby. For the most part, anyone anywhere can observe and appreciate birds and other wildlife.

June 20, 2024 | Rise and shine. People are exposed to a considerable amount of artificial light daily, from televisions and tablets to computers and phones. For most people, their body’s internal clock follows the sun, making them feel awake during the daytime and sleepy at night. Although artificial light can mimic natural light, direct sunlight has 200 times the intensity of office lights in a closed room. As a result, sunlight affects your circadian rhythm more than electric light. Exposing yourself to sunlight can improve your sleep by helping you feel more tired at night, shortening the time it takes to fall asleep and improving the overall quality of your rest. The nice thing about sunlight? It doesn’t cost a thing. To get a daily dose, you only need to step outdoors. Just keep in mind that sunlight needs to enter your eyes to affect your circadian rhythm. If you’re hoping to improve your sleep, picnicking at the beach may help more than napping in a shady wooded area.

June 20, 2024 | Working out in a natural setting could help boost your motivation to exercise in the future, Outdoor exercise can offer a nice change of pace from gyms and make physical activity more interesting and enjoyable. It can make it easier to socialize, as many gyms have unspoken rules about not chatting to the person on the treadmill next to yours. A research study conducted in 2013 found people who walk outside tend to exercise at a greater intensity and report less exertion. The researchers determined that working out outside provided a social aspect that many people crave as well as increasing enjoyment and adherence to bring about positive behavioral changes in most participants. You don’t have to bike a triathlon or ski down a mountain to enjoy exercise in nature. Any activity that gets your body moving in a way that’s doable for you, like gardening, playing with your dog at the park, or washing your car, can offer some health benefits.

June 20, 2024 | Exercising outdoors isn’t just good for your physical health.  It helps with your mental health as well. Spending time in nature and the natural light can improve your mood and reduce stress and depression. Engaging in physical activity produces similar benefits and often times relaxes and cheers people up. Light therapy can help treat both major depression and seasonal depression. If you have seasonal depression, you may notice improvement after a few days. If you have major depression, it may take up to two to five weeks before you notice improvement. Vitamin D is also known as the “sunshine vitamin” because it is made in the skin when it’s exposed to sunlight. Studies suggest that Vitamin D may have protective effects against everything from osteoporosis to cancer to depression to heart attacks and stroke. Keep in mind that too much sun can damage your skin. Be sure to use sunscreen if you plan to be outside for an extended amount of time.

June 20, 2024 | Adults aren’t the only ones that can benefit from spending time in the great outdoors. A study published in 2016 found that the more time kids spent in a natural environment, the more likely they are to experience greater emotional well-being. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children need one hour per day of unstructured, outdoor play. Outdoor play can be more beneficial to children than indoor play because it provides multi-sensory stimulation and requires children to be more dynamic, using their physical, cognitive, and social skills all at once. In contrast, indoor play tends to have fewer elements, takes place in a smaller environment, and may have more rules limiting what children can or cannot do. The home is also more familiar and can stop being as challenging to children as they grow up. Spending time outdoors can promote creativity and problem-solving and improve a child’s strength and endurance.