3 Reasons to Drop Work and Get Outside Now
By Genevieve Cunningham
We are at that magical time of year. It's that time of the year when it's not too hot, not too cold, and the view is beautiful. It's fall. This season brings fun holidays, excellent weather, and often times, a strong desire to get outdoors. Of course, we usually talk ourselves out of this. We tell ourselves that we should be working instead, right? But what if we're wrong? If you're feeling the pull toward the great outdoors, take a look at these great reasons to drop work and get outside right now.
To Get Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin. We need it for bone health, mental wellness, and overall well-being. The problem with Vitamin D is that it's not readily available through our diets. There are very few foods that naturally contain this important nutrient. And because of this, it's crucial that we get outside to soak in some sun -- because the sun is our most important source of Vitamin D. With the winter months coming up, getting outside for a few minutes every day becomes even more important. We'll need that Vitamin D through the winter, and we won't get much outside time. If you want to maintain your health, get outdoors now to get ample amounts of Vitamin D to last you through the winter.
To Boost Your Mood
Good weather is a mood booster. The combination of the sun and the fresh air is an almost instant pick-me-up. And since the winter is the time of year with the highest rates of depression, it's a good idea to soak up the good, mood-boosting weather while you can. Even a few minutes outside is enough to turn your day around. If you're prone to bouts of the blues through the cooler months, get outside and boost your mood before the clouds and cold air arrive.
To Lower Stress
If you feel like you should be working rather than going outside, you may think that doing it anyway will just cause you more stress. But the truth is that the opposite is likely to happen. You're much more likely to feel a bit of stress release after you spend some time outdoors. Much in the way that the outdoors can boost moods, it can also lower stress. The fresh air, sunshine, and open spaces are good for the soul ... and good for reducing stress as well.
With winter just around the bend, it's more important than ever to get outside. Make some time, plan a fun activity, and soak in the beautiful autumn weather. The more time you spend outside, the better you'll feel and the more at peace you'll feel when the winter blows in full force.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Happy Valley, Ore.
