Time spent in green spaces is the healthiest time you can ever have. Outdoors bring out your positive feelings and moods, lowers stress and blood pressure levels, and make you happier. Engaging in social outdoor activities in Richmond, VA (or an area near you) improves your heart rate and lowers your chances of developing common psychiatric disorders. In a nutshell, physical outdoor activities are good for both your physical and mental health.
How Does Outdoor Social Activities Boost Your Health?
Are you looking for a good reason why you need to get outdoors and spend time in nature? Well, here are 6 reasons why outdoor social activities make you healthier:
1. It boosts your vitamin D levels
Your body needs sufficient sunlight for it to create vitamin D. This is the vitamin responsible for fighting cancer, osteoporosis, heart attacks, and several other medical problems. Also, when vitamin D is activated in your body, the body is able to shake off depression. Where else can you get sunlight besides being outdoors regularly?
2. Lowers stress, fatigue, and anxiety levels
If you are feeling stressed or depressed, a day in the woods will be a great remedy. Research shows that besides getting the help of life coach training, you can combat depression by strolling in nature. Also, studies have shown that exercising outdoors has better mental benefits than working out in an enclosed gym. Consider hitting the trails on a bike, hopefully in the company of your biking friends, whenever you are feeling blue. You can also try out group hiking, playing games together, or even singing and dancing outside. Any social activity outside is a non-medical remedy for stress and anxiety.
3. You will be happier
Natural light is good for your mood. It helps you to relax, cheer up, and have an unmatched peace of mind. That is why homeowners are encouraged to design their home windows in a manner that lets in maximum light. But no matter how huge and well-positioned your windows are, you will never get more light indoors than outdoors. By extension, being happy allows you to exercise more and get your life in order, which, in turn, helps you lead a healthier life. On the other hand, many people are unable to work out when sad, and their productivity at work is dented. Low productivity breeds trouble and more sadness, so the cycle of inactive, unhealthy life becomes hard to break.
4. Outdoor activities slow down aging
Because outdoor exercising gives your body a stronger immune response, it is true to say that it can slow down your aging process by keeping age-related illnesses at bay. Acquiring paintball gear or a bike and getting out there can potentially improve your T-cell activity and leave you looking 20 years younger than your chronological age. The fortified immune system also means that your skin will be glowing and inelastic than it has ever been.
5. It is a good concentration boost
Time outside helps kids suffering from ADHD to improve their focus and concentration. Research as of whether or not the same effect is possible in adults is inconclusive, but there isn’t any harm in believing, right?
6. You may heal faster.
Doctors advise patients recovering from spinal surgery to go outside more as that may help alleviate their pain. There are also people who swear that spending time outside leaves them needing lesser pain medication. This makes sense because, as you may know, patients recover better in the hospital once they are able to get out and expose their bodies to natural light.
Which Outdoor Activities Are Best For You?
1. Cycling
Just join a biking group and start reaping the cardio benefits of cycling regularly. You can start by riding around your neighborhood for an hour every day with a classic or an electric bike, and then as you become an avid biker, you can test your skills off-road.
2. Paintballing
Grab your paintball equipment and join a paintballing league within your locality. For a start, you can paintball once a week and then switch things up as you gain experience. This is a great social game for anyone suffering from depression, fatigue, or anxiety. This game is known for bringing people together and nurturing friendships.
3. Hiking
If you are losing too much sleep of late and are now gaining weight and feeling unreasonably fatigued, just join a hiking group and you’ll soon regain your mental and emotional stability.
Conclusion
It is evident that spending time outside can help you overcome or avoid many health problems. Don’t let all the possible brain benefits of mindfulness in nature or biking go to waste. Go out there and boost your spirits and physical health!
