Sunshine and Outdoor Activities Are So Very Important for Lifting Your Mood
Have you been feeling lonely and lethargic lately? Maybe you’ve been cooped up at home, and yet you lack the motivation to even just step outside your door. Well, if you need to perk up and feel energetic, turn it around. It’s time to get some sunshine and do outdoor activities!
The Benefits of Sun and Outdoor Activities
Sunshine and outdoor activities can bring you a multitude of benefits. They can boost your overall well-being, and several studies have found evidence to support their health benefits, particularly when it comes to mood.
Here are some ways sunshine and outdoor activities lift your spirits and make you feel happier.
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Increased Happy Hormones
Exposure to sunlight stimulates the production of serotonin, which is a feel-good hormone. Serotonin brings you a sense of calmness and satisfaction, helping you avoid depression and anxiety.
Being outdoors also allows you to breathe fresh air. Oxygen boosts the production of serotonin and quickly improves your mood.
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Increased Endorphins
Exercising outdoors, such as running, can help your body produce more endorphins, which can also boost your mood. Higher levels of these neurotransmitters in your body can calm you down and clear your head.
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Lower Levels Of Cortisol
Being outdoors and with nature can help reduce levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. Studies have shown that even the sight of nature from office windows can boost employees’ job satisfaction and lower their stress levels. Imagine what more nature can do for you when you’re physically there.
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Better Melatonin Production
When you don’t get enough sunlight, your serotonin levels dip, and melatonin production increases. That’s partly why you may feel depressed or lethargic during the day. But when your serotonin levels are high because of sun exposure, your body produces melatonin better at night (when it should) to help you get quality sleep. With enough sleep, you’ll feel energized and in a good mood the next day.
Other health benefits of sunlight and outdoor activities include the following:
- building stronger bones
- improving metabolism
- improving many skin conditions
- preventing cancer
- improving mental health
- getting better sleep
- regulating blood pressure
- improving memory
- absorbing Vitamin D
Outdoor Activities You Can Do All Year Round
Here are some great activities you can do outdoors to get more exposure to sunlight and alter your mood for the better.
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Play In The Dirt
Growing something is good for the soul. It’s good to do gardening early in the morning to get some sunshine. The temperature is cooler in the morning, so it feels more relaxing. Likewise, planting some flowers can also make you feel good. Just remember to avoid staying outside for too long after eight o’clock so that you won’t get any sunburn.
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Workout Outdoors
Instead of the gym, why not do your workout outdoors? You can run at a nearby park or do your routine in your garden.
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Go For A Walk
Take a walk at a nearby park or area where you can appreciate nature, get fresh air, and see more green. You can take your pet for a walk too!
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Go Hiking
Stretch your muscles and joints by hiking. You’ll be immersed in nature, with peacefulness and fresh air to enjoy. You can also go camping and watch the sunrise.
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Go To The Beach
When thinking about outdoor activities, you’ll always remember the beach where you can swim or just sit down on the sand and look at the vast ocean. You can also go swimming and kayaking and experiencing other water sports. Don’t forget to apply sunblock!
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Go Wander In The Forest
Spend some peaceful time in the middle of the forest. It’s calming to sit there and listen to the rustling sound of the leaves, singing of the birds, and sounds of the insects. No wonder “forest therapy” exists nowadays.
If you notice that you’ve been in a bad mood too often recently, assess if you’re getting a healthy dose of sunshine and if you are engaging in outdoor activities. If not, it’s about time you changed your lifestyle habits. Incorporate an outdoor exercise into your daily routine. Take a break from the busyness of the urban setting and give your brain some downtime by spending time with nature. Your choices don’t have to be complicated.