This summer, you should spend more time in the great outdoors.
First, being outdoors brings health benefits. Spending time in nature can improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase physical fitness.
Physical activity alone provides many benefits, such as getting stronger and healthier, plus improved vitamin D levels, which come from the sun. Fresh air also provides benefits.
Being outside, like going to the pool or park, also makes you spend energy, which can reduce stress and anxiety levels. This can improve your focus – which is important to remember in the fall, when school starts and homework is assigned.
Connecting with nature, by hiking, camping, fishing, or hunting, can make you feel more relaxed. It can take your mind off of stressful things in your life.
You can also meet new people by being active and outside, or strengthen friendships that you already have.
The last reason to get outdoors is that it limits screen time. While being on a phone or computer may be fun, it has many disadvantages.
Excessive screen time can add to stress and worsen mental health by increasing anxiety and social isolation – the opposite of the positive effects that being outdoors can provide.
Excessive blue light from screens can make it harder to fall asleep at night. Another issue is eye strain, where eye muscles become fatigued after extensive, continuous use of devices like phones.
