The benefits of thirty minutes outside each day

BENEFITS OF GETTING OUTSIDE!

If you’re in the UK you may well be currently asking “Where is Spring?!” Even with grey skies and low temperatures there are still so many benefits (both mental and physical) to being outside in nature. Read on to find out exactly how spending just thirty minutes outside each day can do wonders for your health and wellbeing.

Firstly let’s look at the mental benefits of time with nature. Spending time in green spaces or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit your mental wellbeing by improving your mood, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety and improving confidence and self-esteem. Time outside can include gardening, walking, exercising outdoors and spending time with animals. All of these activities have been proven to support strong positive correlations with improved mental health and wellness.

Now let’s talk about the physical benefits that mother nature can bring to you. Exposure to fresh air and sunlight can improve your sleep quality by helping your circadian rhythm and helping you feel more tired at bedtime.

Immune function is boosted - micro-organisms which are found in nature can help prepare your immune system for more serious illnesses, meaning your body can fight infections more efficiently.

Believe it or not, being outside can increase your motivation for exercise. When we are outside we move more, we take more steps and breathe more deeply. This releases endorphins and makes us feel good, which in turn makes us more inclined to do it again and again.

Hope molecules - scientists have proven that by moving muscles they contract and produce natural antidepressants.

Another huge health benefit of being outdoors is lower blood pressure and heart rate. Studies have shown that just a 30 minute dose of nature can lower your pulse and blood pressure which as we know has far reaching benefits for your body.

So time in the fresh air really does do wonders for both mental and physical health. I cannot recommend highly enough carving out just 30 minutes of your day to walk, garden, run, cycle or even wild swim to reap the benefits that time outside brings.

For those of you who have follow me, you'll know I love getting outside with our dogs Ralph and Patch – even if I am having a particularly busy or stressful day I always come back feeling more positive and ready to tackle whatever comes next following being outside.

Some good old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat!