5 Surprising Ways Being Outside Improves Your Mental and Physical Health

There is something most people don’t know: being outside in nature is great for your mental and physical health. Whether you are hiking in the mountains or sitting in the park, the fresh air and interactions with Mother Nature impact your body and brain function, positively. 

Scientific research has shown that stepping away from our screens and into the sunlight can lower stress, sharpen focus, and significantly improve our immune system. So, if you’ve been cooped up for too long inside your house, and are feeling burnt out or sluggish, the best medicine for you is going outside. 

In today’s blog, I’ll share five surprising ways being outside improves your mental and physical health. Let’s begin. 

5 Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Spending Time in Nature

The following are five unique ways spending time in nature benefits you mentally and physically: 

1. Being in Nature Lowers Your Stress Hormone

Life can get stressful fast, whether you’re dealing with work deadlines, a long commute, or managing your household. When you feel stressed, your cortisol level is high, and one of the ways to bring it down is by going outdoors and immersing yourself in nature. 

Research shows that spending 20 minutes in a green space acts like a natural off switch for your nervous system. The calmness and beauty of nature will take your body from a fight or flight mode to a rest and digest mode. Consequently, your blood pressure lowers, making you feel physically and mentally calmer.

2. Being in Nature Boosts Your Immune System with Phytoncides

Have you ever heard people say that children who play outside are less likely to fall ill than those who always stay indoors? Well, it’s true and one of the surprising physical benefits of spending time in nature. Here’s the science behind it. 

Trees and plants emit organic compounds called phytoncides to protect themselves from insects and rot. When you breathe these in during a walk in the woods, your body responds by increasing the activity of “Natural Killer” (NK) cells. 

NK cells are a vital part of your immune system, as they help fight infections and even tumours. So, spending a weekend or 30 minutes outdoors daily keeps your immune system strong for a long time and improves your overall physical health. 

3. Being in Nature Helps Beat Digital Fatigue and Sharpens Focus

Digital fatigue is real, and you might not even know you’re suffering from it. Receiving constant notifications and multitasking drains our “directed attention.” The latter is the type of focus we need for work or school. But when we step into nature, we get what scientists call soft fascination, which helps ease digital fatigue.

Watching clouds move or leaves rustling allows your brain to rest because it doesn’t require hard focus. When the brain rests, your mental energy gets restored. Studies have shown that people perform up to 50% better on creative problem-solving tasks after spending a few days in nature away from electronic devices. So, if you want sharpened focus and to beat digital fatigue, spend time in nature.

4. Being in Nature Improves Your Sleep Quality Through Natural Light

Improved sleep quality is another mental and physical health benefit of being in nature. Generally, our bodies run on an internal clock known as the circadian rhythm. This clock tells us when to be awake and when to sleep. Sadly, modern inventions, like artificial blue light, mess up the circadian rhythm. 

But if you spend time outside, especially in the morning, it will help reset the rhythm. This is because early morning sunlight is much stronger than indoor lighting. It signals your brain to stop producing melatonin (the sleep hormone) during the day so that it can produce a big burst of it at night, helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. 

5. Being in Nature Reduces Negative Overthinking

Mental health is not all about feeling happy, but also about stopping the cycle of negative thoughts. When you walk in a natural setting, you reduce rumination, that is, negative overthinking. It stops the urge to replay embarrassing moments or worries over and over in your head. 

Brain scans of people who walk in nature show less activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain linked to mental sadness and repetitive negative thoughts. So, essentially, nature helps quiet the part of your brain that worries. 

Final Thoughts 

From all we’ve said, it is evident that walking in nature is quite beneficial to our mental and physical health. So, whether it’s taking a quick walk through a local park, gardening in your backyard, or simply eating your lunch under a tree, the benefits of the outdoors are accessible to everyone. Therefore, take advantage of it and enjoy all the benefits that come with being outdoors.