June is the kick-off to summer, and it is also Great Outdoors Month! School is out, the weather is warm, and it is the perfect recipe for spending more time outside! A sense of excitement and happiness comes with the idea of getting to spend time at the pool, go to a baseball game, or have a bar-b-que in the backyard with family and friends. There are lots of great benefits – both physical and mental – to spending more time outside.
Some of those benefits include:
- Boost Your Energy: Just 20 minutes in the open air gives your brain an energy boost that is comparable to one cup of coffee.
- Chase Away the Blues: Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues can be eased by spending time outside. Studies have shown that being outdoors can also lower cortisol levels, which is the marker for stress.
- Get a Boost of Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential for bone growth, it regulates the immune system, and it can help battle depression. Getting 10-30 minutes of midday sunlight, several times per week, can help maintain healthy Vitamin D levels.
- Better Brain Function: Spending time outside is linked to higher levels of concentration, creativity, and improved mental clarity.
Depending on where you live, there are a bunch of different ways to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors! In case you need some creative ideas, here are some ideas for spending more time outside:
- Visit a State or National Park
- Take an outdoor photography class
- Take up an outdoor hobby, like gardening
- Learn how to identify birds and go bird watching
- Go for a trail walk or bike ride
- Take your meal outside
- Spend time at the pool
- Go camping
- Visit a botanical garden
- Sit outside to read, knit, or relax
- Take social gatherings outside
- Have your exercise class outside instead of in the normal indoor setting
- Take a walk, whenever you can
Functional Pathways’ Wellness Program and Therapy Services are here to provide you with the tools and resources you need to function are your highest level. Doing so will allow you to spend as much time outside as you want, not only in the month of June, but all year long.