How to Get the Best of Nature
When we think of nature, we usually associate it with beautiful landscapes and picturesque views. However, spending time outdoors has been scientifically proven to benefit our mental and physical health in many ways. It has been shown to lower stress levels, improve mood, and increase feelings of coziness and happiness. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Natural Sciences studied the effects of spending time in natural places on the mental health of residents of the state. The study found that living 265 square feet in a place like a forest had a positive impact on the mental health of its residents. The study discovered that people who spent time in natural environments had lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. How can spending time in nature help you? Here are some of the hidden benefits of spending time outside.
Spending Time Outdoors Can Increase Coziness And Happiness
Spending time outdoors has been proven to improve mood and feelings of happiness. Researchers found that the effects on mental health could be greater than the effects of anti-depressants. Spending time in natural environments triggers the release of serotonin, which reduces feelings of anxiety and depression.
It Helps Reduce Stress
After experiencing the natural world, individuals had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This is especially helpful for individuals that have high-stress jobs, such as doctors and firefighters. Spending time surrounded by nature can help reduce a person's stress levels.
It Helps Improve Mood
As mentioned, one of the hidden benefits of spending time outside is an increased mood. Spending time in nature has been shown to improve mood and reduce feelings of depression. In fact, this benefit can be noticed after just a few minutes outside! In a study conducted by the University of Michigan, people who took a walk through a natural area reported feeling less stressed and more calm afterward than those who walked along a busy street. The results show that nature has an effect on our moods, even when we don’t realize it or think about it. Nature is also said to have restorative effects on mental health and can lower stress levels as well as anxiety for people with chronic illnesses like depression.
It Can Help With Depression
Outdoor spaces can help with depression. Spending time in natural environments is proven to improve mood and lower rates of depression. The University of Wisconsin–Madison study found that people who spent time in natural environments had lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. It’s important for adults to maintain these mental health benefits by getting out into nature for at least three hours a week. If you have kids, it’s even more important that they get outside and explore the many benefits that nature has to offer.
It Can Help With Chronic Pain
One of the most common reasons people visit a doctor is because of chronic pain. Research has shown that spending time outside can help with chronic pain. A study done by scientists at Stanford University found that people who spent time in natural landscapes had a significant reduction in their chronic pain. The participants in the study spent four hours a day for two weeks while walking or sitting outdoors, and their levels of chronic pain were reduced by one third. This means that if someone has been suffering from chronic pain for 10 years, they would have experienced two years less of it just by spending two weeks outdoors. The reasons for this are unclear, but it may be because nature acts as a distraction to our brains from painful thoughts. Spending time in natural environments may also allow our brains to produce more serotonin and dopamine which can improve moods and reduce stress levels.
It Can Help With burn Fat
Exercising outdoors is great for your mental and physical health. It can also help you burn fat! Fitness coach, author, and public speaker Jordan Syatt advocates exercising outside to lose weight. He believes that being in nature is a powerful motivator and provides an environment that promotes socializing, which helps with weight loss. It’s true that exercising outside burns more calories than indoor exercises do because of the increased elevation, air flow, temperature, and humidity levels. Even though exercising inside is still beneficial for your body, it may not be as effective as outdoor workouts on burning fat. The increased elevation from outdoor exercises causes more oxygen to enter into your bloodstream, which leads to the release of more fat than when you exercise indoors. Additionally, outdoor exercises are typically longer than those done indoors due to all the scenery around us. This will burn more calories than shorter workouts done indoors since we spend less time doing them!
Conclusion
The more time we spend outdoors, the more benefits we receive. We can increase our wellness and our happiness by spending time in nature. Spending time outside is not only good for us, it’s good for the planet too. Nature has a way of healing us that no other environment can. It’s important to take time to get out of your hectic schedule and enjoy what’s around you.