To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.” –Jane Austen
Continuing our mission of bringing you ideas for those little moments that offer opportunity for relaxation and renewal, this week Footsteps in Eden Reflexology invites you to step out in nature and breathe in her refreshment. An article in Harvard Medical School’s “Harvard Health Letter” suggests five benefits of time spent outdoors:
- Your vitamin D levels will go up.
- You’ll get more exercise. (My note: a little effort is required here.)
- You’ll be happier (especially if your exercise is ‘green’).
- Your concentration will improve.
- You may heal faster.
Consider this from Healthline:
Researchers from the Baker Heart Research Institute in Melbourne found that levels of serotonin—a neurotransmitter that regulates appetite, sleep, memory, and mood—are lower during the winter than the summer.
The research team noted that the only factor that affected participants’ moods was the amount of sunlight they were exposed to on any given day. More sunlight meant better moods; less sunlight lead to symptoms of depression.”
We often believe, though, that to benefit from outdoor activities we need much time, athletic abilities, planned adventures, etc. We may be stuck in windowless buildings all day. We often use that as our excuse for avoiding fresh air and sunshine, but even small snippets of time outdoors can bring much needed refreshment to your day.
For me personally just a walk to the mailbox, a phone conversation outside instead of inside, and even taking my iPad and heading outdoors to do a little work all really improve my perspective and my mood. For some ideas on how you may add some nature breaks into your day, check out PopSugar’s article: “8 Ways to Sneak a Nature Break Into Your Busy Day.”
