Yellow Stone Bungalows

Whether it’s going out for a hike, taking a walk in the park, or simply sipping your favorite cold beverage in the backyard, spending time in nature is certainly one of the healthiest parts of our days. It’s no surprise that feeling the sun on your skin and taking a deep breath of fresh air can make you feel as though you have recharged your “natural” batteries.
Nowadays, it’s become a habit for most people to spend their working hours in an office in front of a computer and then come back home and take a rest by watching some television. It seems as though we have completely lost our “connection” to nature. Fortunately, more and more doctors and scientists are working on influencing people to spend more time outside. In the last few years, a lot of research has been done on this topic, and it is proven that making time for nature can benefit our health in numerous ways.
Benefits of Spending Time in Nature
Relaxing in the outdoors can do wonders for our bodies, both physically and mentally. This is why it’s crucial that we try to make time during the week to at least go for a 10-minute walk in the local park. Researchers have done numerous studies on this topic to help us understand how beneficial spending time in nature actually is, and hopefully, motivate us to do it more frequently. Here is a list of some of the most interesting benefits we have picked out.
Reduce Stress
If you had a stressful day at work or have been feeling tense in the last couple of days, one of the best “natural” remedies is to actually go outdoors. Forget about your phone or laptop for a while, and find a green space where you can spend some time. Researchers have proven that nature has a soothing effect on the brain and that as little as five minutes in a natural environment can help tremendously in reducing stress levels . Doing some sort of outdoor physical activity such as jogging, running, or hiking is even better since it gets our blood flowing and heart pumping.
Boosts the Immune System
Because of the ongoing global pandemic, strengthening our immune systems has never been more important. Numerous studies have suggested that spending time in nature and exposing our skin to sunlight has a direct impact on our immune systems. These studies have shown that people who spend some time each week doing any sort of outdoor activity have a much easier time fighting off diseases. This is mostly because of the chemicals plants emit called phytoncides that positively affect our bodies. Keeping your body healthy has never been easier with the various fun outdoor activities you can choose from.
Increases Vitamin D Levels
It’s common knowledge that the sun is one of the best natural ways to increase vitamin D levels in our bodies. Vitamin D plays a huge part in many of our systems functions, such as strengthening the nervous system, keeping our bones and muscles healthy, and improving our overall mood. In the modern world, it’s astounding how many people suffer from vitamin D deficiency, but it’s also a good indicator of just how much time we spend in front of the screen. Researchers suggest that as little as 20 minutes of sunlight exposure can help our bodies absorb the necessary amount of vitamin D . No matter how busy we are during the week, we can all set aside at least these twenty minutes to provide our bodies with the sunlight it craves for.
Better Sleep and More Daytime Energy
Grabbing a cup of coffee or an energy drink seems to be the global method for all people who suffer from a lack of energy during the day. And, although we agree that a cup of coffee can sometimes seem the perfect way to get your juices flowing for a busy day, it’s nowhere nearly as healthy as making a short walk around the neighborhood your daily habit. Spending time outside and absorbing that natural light has been proven to not only provide us with enough energy for the day, but it can also tremendously help with our sleeping patterns . There are plenty of researchers and doctors that associate spending time in nature with sleep quality, and this is exactly why we should all strive to make this a habit.
Inspires Creativity
If you have ever wondered why so many famous writers end up spending months in a mountain cabin or a small beach house, now you have your answer. The “dose of nature” you get from spending time in the outdoors can immensely help any individual working in some sort of creative industry. In 2012, a study was done on a group of backpackers to examine if their creativity enhances after spending a few days in nature. The results were fascinating. They showed that the group of backpackers who have spent four days in nature scored 50% higher on a creativity test compared to the group that stayed at home during these four days. No matter what your job is, if you see yourself stuck in a creative “rut”, spending more time in nature might be the way to get you out of it.