5 Reasons You Need the Outdoors
The outdoors are calling! It’s the perfect time of the year to get
outside and enjoy the beauty around you. Did you know that simply
spending time in nature is actually beneficial to your mental and
physical health?
1. Improved Memory and Concentration
There’s something about fresh air and an open landscape that does the
brain good. Here’s proof: In a study conducted by the University of
Michigan, a group of students was issued a memory test and then split
into two groups upon completing the test. Both groups went for a walk,
one group through a forest and the other group through a city. After the
walk, they took the memory test again. Those who walked through the
forest scored higher on the test than those who didn’t.
2. Restored Energy
Researchers call the occasional brain fogs you experience “mental
fatigue.” You know, the feeling you get when you completely forget your
train of thought. Exposing your mind to natural environments can have a
restorative effect on mental energy and focus. Additionally, there have
been studies suggesting that experiencing natural beauty can elicit
feelings of awe and can be a quick way to provide a mental boost. Bring a
pack of e9 along with you for an extra boost of naturally derived energy.
3. Relief from Daily Stress
Countless studies have been performed to prove that spending time in
nature, even looking at scenes of nature from a window, lowers levels of
cortisol—the “stress hormone.” Many of these studies have noticed that
in connection with stress reduction, spending time in the outdoors
cultivates a positive attitude and mindfulness. As naturalist John
Burroughs said, “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my
senses put in order.”
4. Boosted Immune System
A 2010 study conducted in Japan asked a group of individuals to camp
outside for three days and two nights. Researchers discovered that white
blood cell activity increased, resulting in white blood cell
production. These types of cells kill illnesses, such as the cold and
flu viruses, and other common infections. Add in your daily dose of Mistica and head outside!
5. Improved Mental Health
Globally, about 350 million people struggle with depression and one in
three people deal with anxiety. Scientists at Stanford University
published a study in Proceeding of the National Academy of Science that
showed that those who walked in a natural setting, as opposed to an
urban setting, had decreased activity in the subgenual prefrontal
cortex, a region of the brain that focuses repeatedly on negative
emotions. Many medical professionals are now prescribing nature therapy
as part of their mental health regimens.
The benefits of spending time outdoors are overwhelming and life
altering, so put on your hiking shoes and head up a steep grade, go
birdwatching, take a dip in a lake, or relax at a campground with family
and friends. It doesn’t matter what activity you choose, just make sure
to take advantage of the warm seasons and claim the natural benefits
the great outdoors has to offer.
