7 Ways Getting Outside Will Make You Feel Good on the Inside
It’s no secret that getting outdoors in the fresh air and sunlight has many benefits for our health. It’s all the more reason to Spring into Parks this month with our 30 Day Challenge!
Below we’ve listed some of the ways that spending time in nature can have a positive effect on mental and physical wellbeing. Plus, we’ve matched each benefit with a suggested activity to kick-start you on your own 30 Day Challenge (it’s never too late to start).
1. Exercise
IG/wildgypsyheartyoga
As part of leading a healthy lifestyle, it’s recommended that we engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day, and getting outside is an easy way to do this! Even if it’s just taking a short walk through your local park, a small amount of daily exercise has long-term benefits for your mind and body including a decreased risk of disease such as diabetes and arthritis.
Suggested Activity: Try a yoga lesson in the park.
2. Stress Relief
IG/meagan.sharp
Feeling stressed at work? Step outside, take a little stroll, and feel your worries melt away. Studies have shown that being outdoors in nature reduces tension and helps us restore our focus. Being outside is also a great setting to practice mindfulness, allowing us to quiet our busy thoughts and focus our senses on nature.
Suggested Activity: Sit by a tree and soak up the sounds of rustling leaves.
3. Vitamin D
IG/LakeLeschenaultia
When we spend time in the sun, it helps our bodies to produce Vitamin D, which in-turn provides us with a range of health benefits. While Vitamin D can be found in certain foods like salmon, we get more than 90 percent of our Vitamin D from sunlight. Just 10-15 minutes of sun exposure each day can help boost our immune system, improve calcium absorption, prevent osteoporosis and reduce inflammation.
Suggested Activity: Enjoy your cuppa in the morning sun.
4. Relationships
IG/drilly86
Spending time in nature helps us reflect internally so we can centre ourselves and connect with the world around us. Spending time in nature also gives us a greater appreciation for our surroundings and the other living creatures in our environment. Spending time outdoors with friends and family is also a great way to nurture our personal relationships and share new experiences with the ones we love.
Suggested Activity: Enjoy a picnic in a park.
5. Creativity
IG/lexisargeant
If you’re in a creative rut then getting outdoors may be the inspiration you need! Studies have shown that spending time in nature has a positive effect on creativity. So if you find yourself staring blankly at your screen, it might be time to venture outside and look at the colours, textures and sounds of nature to get those creative juices flowing.
Suggested Activity: Take some time to explore your local park.
6. Vision
IG/mattsmith.au
These days we are spending more and more time behind a screen, whether it’s a laptop, phone or television. Spending time outside allows our eyes to focus on objects in the distance, reducing eyestrain and promoting healthy vision.
Suggested Activity: Do a digital detox and limit your screen time. Have a WiFi free day.
7. Sleep
IG/morton_mac
Not getting a solid eight hours of shut-eye each night? Getting outside into nature may help. The combined effects of stress reduction and exposure to sunlight can improve our bodies’ production of melatonin at night; a chemical that helps regulate our sleep cycle.
Suggested Activity: Meditate outdoors.
Don’t forget to share your experiences with us on Instagram @ourwaparks using the hashtag #springintoparks
Spring into Parks is a WA Parks Foundation Initiative made possible by Chevron.
