The Impact of the Outdoors on Well-Being
If your job requires you to sit in front of a screen all day and then your home commitments don’t allow you to unwind during the evening, you’re likely no stranger to feelings of being drained and disconnected. There’s no denying the fact that life is demanding, and this can be detrimental to your stress and anxiety levels. As a result, it’s important to find remedies that work for you to keep your mental well-being in good shape. For a number of individuals, the solution is just on their doorstep. After all, the outdoors boasts endless beauty and tranquility, providing individuals with a world of wellness benefits. Whether it’s relaxing on their artificial grass St Albans or wandering through a nearby forest, the impact of nature on our well-being can’t be underestimated.
The Psychological Benefits of Nature
There’s plenty of research to back up how spending time in nature positively affects a person’s mental health. Evidence suggests that engaging with nature enables a person to reduce feelings of stress. This is due to the way in which natural environments have the capacity to uniquely capture our attention; this is otherwise known as “soft fascination”. Soft fascination allows the mind to rest and recover from mental fatigue, providing you with the break you need from the constant stimuli found in urban settings. With natural settings, you’re provided with a calming backdrop, which works to reduce cortisol levels, blood pressure, and even feelings of anxiety.
What’s more, engaging with nature is proven to boost happiness – as little as five minutes of exercise in a natural setting can help your self-esteem. In fact, the presence of rivers, lakes and other bodies of water can enhance these effects even further, as they provide a soothing auditory and visual experience, As a result, you’ll be left feeling content and relaxed.
The Physical Health Benefits
The health benefits of being outside extend far beyond the psychological advantages, as being outside also engages us physically. Hiking, biking, or just gentle walks are all you need to maintain your physical fitness. This will help you improve your cardiovascular health, build your muscles, and also strengthen your immune system. This is because natural terrains are more unpredictable, which forces you to work on your coordination.
Similarly, when exercising outside, you’re exposed to sunlight, which is an essential facet of human well-being. This is because exposure to sunlight triggers our vitamin D production, which is essential for bone health, immune function, and mental health. With a vitamin D deficiency comes an elevated risk of depression, meaning that spending your time outdoors allows you to combat this risk.
The Social and Cognitive Benefits
What’s more, being outside allows you to foster social connections and enhance cognitive function. With outdoor activities comes the opportunity for group participation, which allows you to build relationships and a sense of community. You might choose to join a local group to encourage you to get outside. This might include a local hiking group or a sports team. Alternatively, you might just enjoy a picnic with friends and family, providing the opportunity for interactions that support emotional and social well-being.
Additionally, spending time in nature works to boost cognitive function, as studies show that children who play in natural environments have better attention spans, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Therefore, adults can also improve their memory and cognitive flexibility by walking among nature. Life presents us with constant information overload, and being in nature works to reset our brains, bolstering their function.
