How spending time in nature can have inspiring health benefits

In today’s busy, modern life, you might spend a considerable amount of time sitting indoors looking at a screen, be that for work or pleasure.

When did you last manage to get outdoors and enjoy being surrounded by nature? If it’s been a while, you might want to consider how you could inject a little nature into your life.

According to research published in the Guardian, spending time outdoors could transform your memory, imagination, and logic. If you don’t engage with natural environments, your brain may not function as well as it could.

Read on to discover how bringing nature into your everyday life could benefit your physical and mental health.

Reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression

Even if you’re generally a cheerful, optimistic person, there may be times when you feel low or overwhelmed. Life can get busy and if there are conflicting demands on your time and energy, this could lead to stress, anxiety, or depression.

If you’re experiencing these feelings, immersing yourself in nature might lift your mood.

According to a 2019 study reported in Harvard Health Publishing, spending just 20 minutes in nature could reduce stress hormone levels.

So, factoring in a short lunchtime stroll or an afternoon reading in the park could be enough for you to feel the benefits.

While there are more formal therapeutic treatments such as ecotherapy for improving mental health, you could enjoy the mood-boosting effects of nature by doing any activity you enjoy, be that walking, playing golf, or cycling.

Improve your memory and cognition

Taking time away from technology and other aspects of your busy life might give your mind much-needed time to rest and recover.

As a result, you could benefit from a boost to your cognitive function, which includes perception, memory, reasoning, judgment, imagination and problem-solving. These processes are essential for our ability to gain knowledge and understand the world around us.

By bringing the natural environment into your life, you could become more creative, insightful, and quicker at problem-solving.

So, whether you’re eager to complete your next sudoku in record time or climb the next step in your career, spending more time outdoors could give you the brain boost you need to achieve your goals.

Enjoy better physical health

Being outdoors might encourage you to be more physically active, which could improve your overall health and wellbeing, as well as increase your life expectancy.

You don’t need to schedule in hours of vigorous aerobic activity to reap the rewards of exercising outdoors, either.

Research published by the University of Cambridge has revealed that a daily 11-minute brisk walk is enough to reduce your risk of early death from health complications such as stroke, cancer, and heart disease.

In fact, adding some outdoor physical activity to your everyday life may offer a host of physical health benefits, including helping you maintain a healthy weight, reducing your blood pressure, and improving heart health.

Develop a healthy sleep routine

Routinely getting a good night’s sleep has been linked to both physical and mental health benefits.

For example, research reported by Healthline suggests that getting more sleep could help you maintain or lose weight, improve concentration and productivity, strengthen your heart, and alleviate depression.

If you want to improve your sleep routine, spending more time outdoors could help.

By exposing your body to more natural light and being more physically active, you might find that you fall asleep more easily and enjoy a better quality of sleep.

Increase your life expectancy

There are five “blue zones” where people are likely to live longer than those in other parts of the world:

1. Ikaria in Greece
2. The Ogliastra Region of Sardinia
3. Okinawa in Japan
4. The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica
5. Loma Linda in California.

While there is no checklist for increasing longevity, several key elements in the lifestyle of these communities have been identified as contributing to a longer life expectancy. And one of these is spending plenty of time outdoors.

So, if you want to live to a great age, consider factoring in a gentle stroll through your nearest green space each day.

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Please get in touch either by email at helpme@aspirellp.co.uk or by calling 0117 9303510.

Please note

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.