In today’s world, encompassed by technology growing every day, the importance of being outside is brushed aside and forgotten, but its effects can never be buried.
One of the boundless impacts of the outdoors is the boost it offers for health. Being outside decreases salivary cortisol, heart rate, blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, as well as risk of preterm birth, type II diabetes, cardiovascular mortality and much more, according to Nih.gov.
Some may say that you can exercise at home and get the same benefits. This is not entirely true. Although it is possible to benefit solely from exercise, the outdoors has many more factors that play a role in improved health: natural vitamin D and fresh air replace the recycled air in a gym and different sceneries and noises that calm the system.
Being indoors forces people to focus on their exercise, so many plug in their headphones to distract themselves from the workout and finish it faster. This in return becomes repetitive. Being outside allows individuals to take in the view, experience a change in surroundings and focus on enjoying the workout.
Of course, everyone wants a healthy and long life. Spending time indoors, especially while young can decrease many important aspects of growth like motor abilities and social skills. Kids usually spend their time on screens all day and develop many bad habits. These bad habits can become more harmful as they grow.
Disconnecting from screens, gives people a breath of fresh air. Partaking in mobilization of the body releases endorphins and cortisol which in return reduces anxiety and stress. As a result, according to Nih.gov, people get improved sleep. Light exposure can revamp the circadian clock which is aligned with the sleep cycle and improves sleep patterns.
It’s important to note that research has shown that regularly spending smaller amounts of time outside has a bigger effect than longer trips or time outside once every couple of weeks. So, implementing some outdoor activity every day is crucial.
Regularly spending time outside increases mortality and boost physical and mental health. Students should implement outdoor activities at least once a day. Especially during important tests. The improved sleep, renewed energy, and reduced stress can help students focus and succeed without a rotting brain.
Students complain about being tired all the time. If they applied any outdoor activity to their day-to-day life, they would see an improved overall attentiveness.
Implementing any sort of outdoor activity each day, even if it means standing on a bench for five minutes. Start a garden. Even participate in school sports to better mental welfare and physical health. These can all be a direct benefit from going out touching some grass.
