Why Spending More Time Outdoors is Good For Your Health

Have you ever stopped to consider how much time you truly spend indoors? Its not something we think of often because its such a natural part of our routine. The majority of jobs today require sitting in an air-conditioned building on a comfortable chair under fluorescent lights. While all of that doesnt sound half bad, you may want to consider how it affects your health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans spend approximately 93% of their life indoors, this includes work, while driving, and other past time activities. Part of the EPAs research included how this time spent indoors negatively affects our bodies. It turns out that the majority of Americans are deficient in vitamins, such as Vitamin D, that mother nature supplies right outside our homes and offices.

Here are a few ways that spending time outdoors will improve your health:

Increase mental energy and ability to focus. These days its difficult to keep our minds focused on one thing at a time. Weve mastered multitasking without even trying. Although it may be beneficial when were pressed for time, doing numerous things at a time isnt always good for our health. It can lead to a mental fatigue which today has become a more widely known symptom of mental exhaustion and too much sensory input from unnatural light and noise. To help our minds regain energy and increase our ability to focus, its recommended to spend time outdoors sans, focusing on breathing, and getting a decent amount of sunlight (about 10 minutes).

Reduce stress and improve mood. If youre ever feeling stressed or angry, try walking outside and taking deep breaths. Even if its only for a couple of minutes. According to the University of Queensland, exposure to nature for 30 minutes a week reduces depression by up to 7%. This is mainly because the sun helps increase the level of serotonin in our bodies, which low levels have been shown to be correlated with anxiety and depression.

Sleep better. Turns out artificial lights are playing a role in our negative sleep patterns. Too much time indoors is throwing off our circadian rhythms, which regulate our internal body clock and respond to the sun. Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to wake up once the suns out? Exposure to the sun first thing in the morning can help modify your sleep cycle. Before driving off to work, try taking your morning coffee or tea outdoors and enjoying the sun for about ten to fifteen minutes.

How to Enjoy the El Paso Weather in the Comfort of Your Own Backyard

One small but impactful way we can begin to take advantage of the outdoors is to start spending more time in our own backyards. Luckily, El Pasos weather allows us to comfortably be outdoors the majority of the year. Here are a few tips to inspire you:

Tip #1: Cook outdoors. Now that spring is upon us, commit to at least one day of the week where you turn lunch or dinner into an outdoor feast. The benefit of cooking outdoors is that you will get more Vitamin D from the sun and breath in air thats healthier than the one indoors. According to the California Air Resource Board, the air indoors contains higher levels of pollutants that pose a risk to our health, some of which include lung cancer, asthma, and heart disease.

Tip #2: Meditate or relax outside. The sound of waterfalls and rain hitting a tin roof are synonymous with relaxation. Our brains are trained to interpret sounds such as an alarm clock with ritual, which is why certain noises are positively received and can relax the mind. Spending time near a fountain or pond where water is in motion.

Tip #3: Exercise outdoors. While your neighborhood gym might offer an array of exercise equipment and machines, theres one amenity thats lacking fresh air. By creating a space in your own backyard where you can comfortably workout will not only encourage more routine physical activity but it will change your idea of exercise. A study published by the University of California San Diego found that adults who participated in outdoor activities versus indoors were more physically active.

Start Spending More Time Outdoors to Experience These and Other Health Benefits.

At Dorian Construction, we encourage the healthy benefit of spending time outdoors, which is why we take pride in our work of building custom swimming pools, outdoor fireplaces, and kitchens, along with backyard amenities such as ponds and waterfalls for the residents of El Paso. Learn more about our backyard transformations today by giving us a call.