How much time do you usually spend outside, in nature, actually enjoying it? Not just walking from your car to your office, or taking the dog outside for a quick bathroom break, but actually time spent outside, breathing the air and looking around? There are many reasons that you should be getting outside.
The Sun
One of the best, and most important, reasons to get outside is to get some natural sunlight. You may not know it, but the sunlight bathing your bare skin is the best way for your body to get the vitamin D it needs. Just 15 minutes a day in the sunlight is enough.
While you can find food fortified with vitamin D, or take a supplement, time in the sun is your best bet. So, that is just one good reason to get outdoors, take a walk, go to the beach (if the season permits), or simply sit outside in your yard and read a book to relax. You can even step it up a notch, strap on your hiking backpack and hit the trails. Hiking does not only sculpt your body, but it is also a powerful cardio workout.
The Air
The air inside your home or office can get stagnant. If it’s during colder months and you haven’t been opening windows to air out your home, just getting outside for a fresh breath of air can be like heaven. Why not spend some time outdoors and give your lungs a nice clearing session.
You’ll get more pure oxygen in every breathe. Spend some time meditating outdoors. Your deep breathes for relaxation will be full of pure, clean, calming air, straight from nature.
The Beauty
One of the best times of the year to enjoy the beauty of nature is during the spring. At this time you can see all of the beautiful flowers in bloom and see the buds and flowers on flowering trees, like magnolias. It’s a beautiful sight to see and it can really put a smile on your face, no matter how bad of a day you are having.
Maybe you could take up gardening, right in our own yard, and add to the beauty you see every time you step outside.
The mindfulness
When you spend your days working and worrying about the day-to-day issues that plague you, it can be easy to forget about the things that surround you. If your mind is constantly occupied, you don’t get the opportunity to truly enjoy the moments that make up life.
Spending some time away from it all can do a world of good for your mindfulness. When you find yourself in the middle of a forest all alone, you start to appreciate the little details that surround you. It makes you feel like you’re just a small part of the big picture of life. The tranquil and calm air allows you to more carefully listen to your own thoughts. Many travellers have had their fair share of epiphanies when treading through nature. It’s something of a rite of passage into a new level of mindfulness.
Your mind can run free and wild, but not in a way that overwhelms you and causes confusion. Rather, your thoughts become more coherent and you can come to terms with some of the things that might be bothering you. Think of it as leaving the mental cage you’re in when you are surrounded by the hustle and bustle of civilization. When you’re in nature, stress takes a back seat to your open and free mind.
The connections
The way you take your journey is up to you. Some people prefer to head into the great outdoors alone, giving themselves the opportunity to think and reflect on their thoughts. However, there’s no reason that you can’t share this wonderful experience with someone else. The connections with nature you make along the way can be even more meaningful if you have a companion alongside you. If they can appreciate them just as much, all the better for both of you.
Spending time outdoors with someone could lead to some mutual understanding and a much deeper emotional connection. If you’ve ever wanted to have a conversation in private, a long hike through nature would be the perfect setting.
The views
Some of the best benefits of spending time outside are the views that go along with it. The flora and fauna aren’t the only beautiful things you can look at. When you find yourself in pure, unbridled nature, take a minute to soak up everything that the earth has to offer.
Mountaineering is an activity that produces views like no other. If you enjoy trekking through nature on foot and getting a dose of excitement, mountaineering gives you the best of both worlds at the same time.
Some people prefer making their way through nature on foot, while others might enjoy the trip on a bicycle. Mountaineering requires that you are well prepared. A pair of durable boots would be recommended so that you don’t end up tearing them and getting injured. If you decide to go by bike, you need to make sure that it’s ready for the rough terrain. Replace your old gear with some durable Entity bike parts to make sure that your bicycle is ready for such a wonderful journey. With a well-equipped ride, you can make your way from wonderful view to wonderful view rather quickly.
The teeming life
There’s something about nature and its many wonders that attract countless souls. It’s fascinating to watch the complexities in life unfold in nature. Every plant and animal is vying for survival and they all form a wonderful coexistence that we call an ecosystem. Spending some time among flora and fauna can really put humanity in perspective. Everyone is just another living thing trying to find its way through its own habitat.
The problems of life start to seem insignificant when you find yourself surrounded by nature that is teeming with life. To achieve this, you don’t have to look further than your own home and garden. People like bringing a small touch of nature to their own little corner of life. Being able to raise something from the ground is a humbling experience that puts things in perspective. Gardening is as much of a spiritual journey as it is a skill and hobby.
Spending time in your garden will leave you feeling refreshed. In order to create the perfect garden, all you need is a bit of care and a lot of patience. A green thumb is earned with effort. There’s nothing more relaxing than spending a day in a garden that was a fruit of your own labour.
The waves
When the warmth of the sun gets a little bit too harsh, it’s nice to be able to cool off a bit. During summer months, everyone likes to take a dip in the water. Swimming is considered one of the most relaxing and efficient workouts that you can partake in. You can seamlessly glide through the water without breaking a sweat, but your body is still doing its best to keep you afloat.
Cooling off in water can be a very calming experience, and it can help you reduce the stress you’ve accumulated throughout the day. For people that have any sort of joint problems, swimming in water presents itself as the ideal solution. Other types of physical activities require a bit more exertion on your part, while swimming remains the ideal, relaxing sport.
Pools and swimming aren’t for everyone. Sometimes you just want to appreciate the soothing sounds of waves and splashing water within a natural context. Luckily, there are activities that cater to these likes.
You don’t even have to enter the water to enjoy the waves. If you prefer spending time around natural bodies of water, you can always take up kayaking. It’s a sport that has both relaxing and exciting moments. You can enjoy the calm waters of a lake while absorbing the fresh air, or you can decide to head for the nearest rapids and have a tumble through the turbulent waves. Either way, you’ll leave with a newfound appreciation of nature and its great aquatic landmarks.
The Serenity
A hike in the peaceful forest, on a quiet mountain, or even through a bustling town (for some people) can be full of peace and serenity. It’s like a moving meditation as you clear your mind and take in all of the nature and beauty around you. Even if you want to sit, meditating in the great outdoors can be extremely therapeutic.
Many people find that simple things like feeding birds, sitting on a park bench, or reading under a tree are the best ways to fight things like stress and depression. Maybe if more people spent some time in the serenity of nature there would be more happy people!
Leave a Reply