Between work, school, and chores like grocery shopping or cleaning the house, it’s easy to see how you might feel like you don’t have enough time to spend in the sunlight; however, new studies have found that adults and children generally aren’t heading outdoors even when they do have free time.
There are many great reasons to resist the tendency to seek shelter on a beautiful or even cloudy day. Spending time outdoors can’t solve your problems, but a few minutes in the sun every day might just give you the boost you need to face your worries head-on. If you’re tired or constantly on the go, small everyday stresses can build up and overwhelm you. Getting outside is a surefire way of recharging your mental health for the next time stress comes around.
How will heading outside improve your mental health?
1. Boost your brain power
Time indoors is often spent in front of a TV or computer screen. When you go for a short walk outside, your brain is actively participating. A number of studies have shown that students who spend more time outside often perform better in school. For children with ADHD in particular, time outdoors improves focus and reduces ADHD-related symptoms that often make school tough.
In each study, the results were clear—being outside can help adults and children solve problems with greater mental strength and flexibility. Increasing your brain power is a great, positive way to boost your confidence and self-esteem.
2. Increase your physical health
Like more brain power, better physical health will have you feeling good about yourself. You don’t need to spend hours a day pushing yourself to your physical limit—going for a short walk outside every day can have many positive effects on your body.
3. Improve your relationships
In the midst of all the demands on your time, it can be easy to neglect the real, personal connections you have with other people. Going on a hike with your partner or with a friend is a great way to check in with each other. Chances are good that after spending time outside with someone you love, you’ll also feel more confident that your own emotional needs are being met.
Social time outdoors can improve your mental health even if it’s spent with strangers—a recent study at the University of Michigan found that group nature walks helped people combat depression and trauma.
4. Boost your mood
Hopping on a bike or playing a game of tennis increases the amount of mood-boosting endorphins in your brain. On top of that, in as little as 15 minutes in the sun you can absorb enough vitamin D to feel better about yourself and your life.
5. Appreciate your surroundings
Recent research suggests that living close to green space is linked with greater happiness and life satisfaction. In fact, just looking at pictures of scenery and wildlife can activate the areas of your brain that effect happiness and positive emotions. Exploring the natural world around you will likely improve your mental health.
6. Give your brain a break
One theory behind the fact that more green space means greater happiness is that urban and indoor environments can be over-stimulating. If you’re constantly processing background noise, email alerts, and phone calls, getting outside can simplify things for your brain and reduce your overall stress.
7. Slow down
In addition to reducing the number of stimuli your brain has to process, getting outside is also beneficial to your mental health for the emotional distance it puts between you and your responsibilities. Heading into the woods can be a great way to meditate and reflect.
