Five Reasons to Get Outdoors in Celebration of Earth Day! -

The beauty of Northern Michigan provides many opportunities to get outdoors. Because we live in such a beautiful area surrounded by lakes and open land, we have much at our disposal for outdoor enjoyment. We have an advantage over those living in big cities with crowded spaces full of pollutants. We should not take this for granted but instead, experience the benefits of nature by exploring outdoor activities.

Fresh Air

Getting fresh air into your lungs has its benefits. Find a calming spot outdoors and take some deep breaths. Whether it’s the crisp early morning air or a late afternoon breeze, taking time to breathe deeply can be a useful tool in helping:

Reduce anxiety
Alleviate stress
Increase focus
Improve sleep
Lift your mood

Exercise

Get outdoors and move your body. Because the benefits of exercise are more than I can list in this short article I will list a handful (plus a couple) worth mentioning. Considering these incredible benefits, we would be wise to move exercise up to the top of our to do lists. Besides the obvious benefits of weight loss and increased strength, regular exercise can also increase:

Metabolism
Decrease bone loss
Improve mood
Decrease stress
Improve sleep
Boost immunity
Reduce risk of chronic disease
Improve skin
Reduce signs of aging
Improve brain function
Increase libido
Reduce chronic pain

Earthing

There’s something to be said about the feeling of getting into the earth. Digging into dark soil rich with nutrients and feeling the soft dirt between your fingers as you place a plant in the ground can produce a feeling of calm. Who doesn’t love the feeling of burying your feet into the cool sand on a hot summer’s day? Remember the feeling of mud cupped in your hands as you played outdoors as a child? Many of us have lost our connection with the earth beneath our feet. There are benefits to be found in the soil beyond nutrients for the life of plants. There is a connection for us with the soil as well. Studies and research show that venturing outdoors and working with the soil can create a sense of wellbeing and some of the benefits can look like:

Reduced stress and anxiety
Better sleep
Reduced depression
Reduced inflammation and joint pain
Balanced serotonin
Increased metabolism
Pain relief
Balanced endocrine function

So get outside in honor of Earth Day and do a little gardening, dig in the soil and add some beauty to your life.

Sunshine

Despite the dangers of over-exposure to sun, there are many benefits to baring your skin to its warm rays. In recent years, research has made us well aware of the damaging effects of over-exposure to harmful rays of the sun. This information, coupled with numerous cases of skin cancer, has caused us to be wary and lose out on the many benefits that healthy sun-exposure can provide. Adequate sunlight is essential to the production of Vitamin D in the human body. Many of us do not get enough Vitamin D, due to long dark winter months and overuse of sunblocks during summer months. We rely on expensive and sometimes ineffective vitamins to meet a need that we could generate from the sun. Some things to remember when thinking about sun exposure:

Those with less melatonin in the skin need to be more cautious about how long they are exposed.
Genes also play a role in how we respond to sun exposure.
You do not need a tan to get adequate sun exposure.
Early morning (before 11) or late afternoon (after 4pm) sun are the safest exposure times.
Research suggests that 5-10 minutes a day a few days a week can be enough to boost Vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D is made on the skin. Try not to shower using soap immediately after sun exposure.
Too much exposure to harmful rays can contribute to skin cancer and suppress immunity.

With these things in mind, here is a list of the benefits of responsible sun exposure, mostly due to the ability of our body to produce adequate levels of Vitamin D.

Lowers blood pressure
Enhances immune system
Improves brain function
Eases mild depression
Supports healthy muscles and bones
Rejuvenates aging eyes
Boosts metabolism
Promotes better sleep

Seeing the benefits that getting out into the sunlight offers, should motivate us to find a way to get outdoors. Here’s an interesting article to further your reading on the risks and benefits of sun exposure. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/benefits-of-moderate-sun-exposure

Solitude

There’s nothing more calming for me than venturing out into the solitude of nature. We were created to enjoy and escape to the outdoors. Nature has a way of breaking down our defenses and entering into our souls as we relax in its ever changing embrace. Each season offers its own solitude.

Picture with me these examples of solitude in nature. The sound of the wind rustling through the leaves of the trees, or the sound of cedars creaking as they sway back and forth with the breeze.

Think about the relaxing sound of a babbling brook as the water trickles over rocks and sticks. Or the crashing and splashing of playful waves as they tease the shoreline with their waters on a hot summer’s day.

Imagine the peaceful and inviting sound of crackling logs over a fire or the snapping of twigs and crunching leaves under foot on a cool fall day? Have you ever noticed how silent the woods are after a freshly fallen snow?

All of these opportunities in nature are at our disposal because of the beauty of our region. I’m sure you can think of your own example of solitude in nature. Get outdoors and find that space where you can let the solitude of nature speak to your soul. Let nature create a lasting impression of peace for your mind and heart to venture back to once the pressures of daily life ensue.

Now that we understand the numerous benefits of being outdoors we can plan for more ways to get out there and enjoy the fresh air, sunshine and the earth beneath our feet. I hope you are able to celebrate Earth Day by getting out into the great outdoors and experiencing what nature has to offer!