Spend a Little Time Outside Daily

In this week's challenge you must Spend a Little Time Outside Daily . Take a stroll around your neighborhood or walk through a local park each day if you live near one. If you have a dog, take them for a five minute spin down the street. Or, maybe you have the option to exercise outside — try it; it’s rejuvenating compared to indoor treadmills! Being active outside, even just for a few minutes, is a great way to enlighten your spirits without even trying. It puts you in touch with nature, which studies show can actually benefit our brains, prevent depression, and exposes us to the most natural source of vitamin D available to us: the sun

Benefits of Being Time Outdoors:

1. Being Outdoors Boosts Your Energy

   Craving another cup of coffee? Maybe you should skip the caffeine and sit outside instead. Study suggests that spending 20 minutes in the open air gives your brain an energy boost comparable to one cup of joe.



2. It feeels Easier To Exercise Outdoors

   Exercising outside is noticeably easier. This might be thanks to your verdant surroundings. Researchers had cyclists pedal in front of green, grey, and red video footage. The bikers who exercised in front of the green reported feeling less physical exertion and more positive moods—meaning that grass, trees, and plants might add a psychological energy boost to your workout.



3. The Outdoors is Good for Your Vision

   Research shows that elementary school students who spend more time outdoors are less likely to develop nearsightedness



4. Natural Sunlight Helps Mitigate Pain

   In one study, surgery patients who were exposed to high-intensity sunlight reported less stress and marginally less pain, and therefore took less pain medication



5. The Outdoors Boosts Your Immune System

   Scientists think that breathing in phytoncides—airborne chemicals produced by plants—increases our levels of white blood cells, helping us fight off infections and diseases



6. The Outdoors Provides You With Free Aromatherapy

   According to science, you really should stop and smell the flowers. Research shows that natural scents like roses, freshly cut grass, and pine make you feel calmer and more relaxed



7. The Outdoors Enhances Creativity

   If you’re struggling with writer’s block, you might want to ditch your laptop for the great outdoors. Psychologists found that backpackers scored 50 percent higher on creativity tests after spending a few days in the wild sans electronics



8. The Outdoors Helps With Seasonal Affective Disorder

   In the winter, shorter days and lower light levels can trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD—a reoccurring condition that’s marked by symptoms of anxiety, exhaustion, and sadness. Doctors say spending time outside can lessen SAD’s severity—even if the weather’s cold or overcast



9. Being Outdoor Gives You Your Daily Dose of Vitamin D

   Vitamin D is essential for a well-functioning body. It helps us absorb calcium, it prevents osteoporosis, and it reduces inflammation, among other things. Although vitamin D is present in some foods, like salmon and fortified milk, we get more than 90 percent of our vitamin D from casual exposure to sunlight



10. The Outdoors Makes Us Better People

    According to psychologists, exposure to nature helps us shrug off societal pressures, allowing us to remember and value more important things like relationships, sharing, and community

Tips on being outdoors:

1. Have A Picnic


2. Get Creative With Nature Photography


3. Exercise Outdoors


4. Plan A Fun Camping Trip


5. Walk A Dog

Suggested Reading:

The Powerful Health Benefits of Spending Time Outside - Learn more here.

Spending Just 20 Minutes in a Park Makes You Happier - Learn more here.

Spending Time Outdoors Will Improve Your Health In 9 Fascinating Ways - Learn more here.