Unlock the Health Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors

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Mother nature may not be able to compete with the ease and convenience of indoor living, like WiFi, TVs, and smart home setups, but it can offer something even more important: improved general health and well-being, leading to a strong immune system, lower stress levels and better sleeping habits. 

With the winter weather firmly behind us and the warm summer sunshine on our doorsteps, the great outdoors will be more inviting than ever before. It is the ideal time to break out your favourite trail running shoes and take full advantage of everything the natural world has to offer.  

Improved Sleep

Traditionally, your internal body clock follows the sun, which is why you feel wide awake during the day and sleepy at night. While artificial sunlight can work to mimic natural light, especially for those who live in areas that experience deep and dark winters, direct sunshine is 200 times more intense than standard office lights, making it more important in synchronizing your circadian rhythm. 

Additionally, the great outdoors can improve your sleeping habits by shortening the time it takes to fall asleep, improving the general quality of your rest, and helping you feel more tired by the time bedtime rolls around. It is important to remember that sunlight needs to enter your eyes in order to affect your sleep, so picnicking at your local park will be more effective than napping in a shady forest area. 

Mental Restoration

The modern world contains many intrusive, neverending, and potentially triggering stimulating factors, like computer screens, loud noises, cellphones, and rumbling roadways, that easily become mentally overwhelming and distract from our limited attention spans. This ongoing bombardment can quickly raise our stress and anxiety levels without us noticing. 

In comparison, the natural world is a calm and quiet environment that can offer much-needed mental and emotional refuge when the world feels too much to handle. In Mother Nature, your senses are treated to various pleasant smells, sounds, and sights, working together to rest, refresh, and refocus your mind, body, and soul. 

Boosted Immunity

Vitamin D is crucial for the health of your bones, blood cells, and immune system. It also helps your body to absorb essential minerals like phosphorus and calcium. Your body needs sunlight to produce vitamin D but doesn’t need much of it. During summer, just 10 or 15 minutes of direct sunshine a few times a week is sufficient, while gloomy winter weather will require more outdoor sessions. 

Higher vitamin D levels are crucial for a boosted immune system, but spending time outdoors can benefit your health in multiple ways. Many plants release various substances, including organic compounds called phytoncides, into the air, further boosting immune function and efficiency. In addition, sunlight has been found to energize vital cells in the immune system, known as T cells, which work to fight infection in the body. 

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