The benefit of being out in the great outdoors on our mental health is enormous. This natural world we live in directly affects positive changes in the brain and entire nervous system.
When we decide to spend brief amounts of time in nature, doing something that you find pleasant, can substantially improve our total well-being.
Which is why I’m here today.
In this article, we will break down the mental health benefits that nature gladly gives us when we decide to spend some time outside.
Without further ado, let’s jump into the article!
For more information on mental health, please check out mental health awareness.
Mental Health Benefits and the Importance of Nature
Let’s go ahead and declare something before we get started. Covid-19 had quite the influence on people during the lockdown of 2020.
The lockdown negatively impacted thousands of people and more and more people were itching to get outside.
That is because healthy outdoor recreation has a variety of effects on us- from staying physically fit to building relationships with family and friends.
However, we often forget about the importance of spending time outside can be for your own mental health.
There are a multitude of mental health benefits that are associated with being outdoors.
Let’s take a look:
- Lower risk of depression
- Increase stress recovery
- Restore strength in our mental capacities
- Increase focus and attention
- Boost your mood
As a matter of fact, certain aspects of the outdoors are specifically shown to improve your frame of mind.
Even if it means spending some quality time under the sun.
Studies have shown that people’s brains have higher levels of serotonin on bright sunny days, even if the temperatures are cool.
Serotonin is your body’s natural mood enhancer, meaning a little sunlight can go a long way to reduce depression or anxiety.
Also, the UV light also encourages melanocytes, the cells that produce skin pigments, to release endorphins, giving another natural boost to your mood.
Outdoor Recreation Plays a Big Role in Mental Health Benefits
While being outside can be a mental health boost by itself, when you mix the outdoor recreation with it, you are double-dipping when it comes to rock-solid mental and physical health.
Most outdoor activities involve some form of exercise.
But this exercise can help reduce blood pressure which is a common symptom that entertains stress and anxiety issues.
But more so than anything else, exercise releases endorphins, the body’s feel-good chemical.
Oklahoma has a plethora of recreation opportunities that are fun and bring us a sense of joy.
When you pair these outdoor activities with your family and friends, you also reap the mental health benefits of social connection, which helps us all stay grounded and feel supported.
Ideas to Increase Your Outdoor Recreation In-take
Often at times, especially when we get really busy, we put outdoor activities on the backburner.
We need to put an end to this habit once and for all.
Sometimes one of the hardest things is making time for outdoor recreation, especially in the busy world we live in.
But here are some ways where we can change the course of direction. Let’s take a look at them.
Walk or Bike to Work- Okay, so this isn’t going to be applicable to everyone, but here me out. If you’re close enough to switch up your commute, give it a whirl. Even if you only do it a couple of times a week. This small subtle change can improve your time to observe and enjoy the world around you.
Take the Walk on Lunch Break
I do this in my concrete jungle at work at least 3 days a week to stay active.
Rather than taking the time to go out to eat, I choose to spend this time going on a walk if it’s nice enough. Doing this will help break up the day and leave you feeling accomplished when you resume your workday.
Start an Outdoor-Based Hobby that You Love
Pick a new hobby that gets you outside, hiking or gardening for example. Or you can even take your favorite indoor hobbies and spend more time outside such as reading.
Improved Sleep is a Major Mental Health Benefit
Typically speaking, your body’s internal clock follows the sun, making you feel awake during the day and sleepy at night.
Although artificial illumination can mimic natural light, the 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 in a multitude of ways. Let’s take a look at them.
- Helps you feel more tired at night
- It shortens your overall time it takes to fall asleep
- improves the quality of your sleep
The best 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 truly effect your circadian rhythm. If you’re hoping to improve your sleep, being exposed to sunlight will be better for you somewhere shaded in the woods.
Being Outside Boosts Immune System
It goes without saying that being outside is great for the ole immune system. This is because air circulation can dilute the presence of viruses in the air.
In fact, according to 2022 research, the chances of transmission are 18.7 times higher indoors than outdoors.
Spending time outdoors can help your immune system function optimally. Microorganisms found in nature that aren’t dangerous can run practice drills with your immune system, in a manner of speaking, to help prepare it for more serious infections.
If you live your life in a completely sterile environment, your immune system can lose its ability to recognize what is and isn’t dangerous. It may then set off a red alert for any microorganism it comes across, which can lead to chronic inflammation.
I’m not against soap or sanitizer but getting muddy once in a while can be good for you too.
Thoughts & Takeaways
And that wraps things up for today. There is no doubt that spending time outdoors has a positive impact on us both physically and mentally. I absolutely love spending time outside being connected to nature, but I’m a bigger advocate for mental health. It’s something I take very seriously and probably even more so since the pandemic. I hope you found this article to be helpful. Please share your thoughts and experiences on how you take care of your mental health in the comment section below.
-CT