health benefits of outdoors

9 Health Benefits Of Being Outdoors Backed By Science

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Humans never spent as much time indoors as we do now. Our ancestors’ homes were simply a means of weather protection, a place to lay their heads at night and make their meals. Almost every other aspect of life required their days to be spent outdoors.

Our schooling, jobs, and entertainment have moved us inside, and it’s making a significant impact on our physical and mental health. From lack of vitamins, increased depression, and anxiety to eye strain and headaches due to long stretches interacting with electronic devices. We saw scientific proof of the healing power of nature in 1901.  During the summer of a tuberculosis outbreak, Manhattan State Hospital placed 40 psychiatric patients with tuberculosis in tents on the hospital grounds. They intended to keep them separated from other patients free from T.B. When the weather permitted, the hospital would keep one end of the canvas tent open, allowing the fresh New York air to bathe the ill patients. The hospital staff began seeing such a vast improvement in both physical and psychological healing that they began placing non-tubercular patients in tents on the grounds as well. Some of these newly moved patients improved so dramatically that they were able to be discharged from the mental hospital.

Pure Life wants to take you back into nature, where humans spent the majority of their life for centuries. The health benefits of being outdoors are nearly endless. Still, even more so, studies are beginning to discover that the benefits of being outdoors are becoming more and more critical to our overall mental and physical health.

9 Health Benefits Of Being Outdoors

When struggling with mental health or the stressors of life, we often seek a quick fix. A quick fix is usually thought to be a medication of some kind. But we must stop underestimating the powerful healing and health benefits of being in nature. Here are 9 reasons why having nature in our life is important.

1. Reduced Stress

At its core, stress is our body’s physiological response to real or perceived external threats. These threats can be school, work, social pressure, internal pressure, or family dynamics. When we step outside, we often remove ourselves from the direct line of our threat. Our bodies see physiological changes when outdoors. In fact, scientific studies have measured what happens inside our bodies after just 20 minutes of nature.  After 20-30 minutes of sitting or walking outside, our cortisol levels (the primary stress hormone) decrease significantly. These studies also show that cortisol levels decrease as you spend time outside after the initial 30 minutes. Additional studies have shown that nature can decrease your blood pressure and heart rate while changing your heart rate pattern.

2. Boosts Positive Emotions

Sunlight helps keep our serotonin levels up, which has an important and positive impact on our mood. Serotonin raises our energy and keeps us calm, positive, and focused. Along with sunlight boosting our mood, being outdoors relieves stress, anxiety, and feelings of sadness, allowing room for our positive emotions to shine through.

nature and mental health

3. Reduced Aggression

Those who spend time in nature can combat feelings of aggression by simply experiencing the outdoors. The sounds of nature have been shown to provide calmness, reduced anger, and even mood-boosting benefits. Those who go outdoors seem to be able to restore more self-control and display less aggressive actions and feelings.

4. Boost of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is crucial to our physical health. The best way to increase your vitamin D intake is to get outdoors in the sun! Vitamin D is critical for our bones, blood cells, and immune systems. Vitamin D also works to assist our body in absorbing other important minerals like calcium and phosphorus.

LEARN MORE: Adventure and Mental Health Benefits for Young Adults

5. Allows Opportunities To Be Social

Often, those uncomfortable with being in social settings underestimate the healthy aspects of being a social individual. Each of us may have a different social need. Still, being in nature, especially in Pure Life’s outdoor adventure therapy course, you will learn to connect with others, rely on and trust individuals, and connect with the Costa Rican community. In turn, all these experiences can boost your positive emotions and feelings of purpose and build interest in experiencing daily life.

6. Improved Focus

More cases of health problems from sedentary and indoor life show up each year. One side effect is difficulty focusing. Nature can restore this focus. Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative, says, “Increasingly the research is showing that outdoor and nature play is incredibly important for kids, for both their cognitive and emotional development.”

7. Improved Self-Esteem

In just 5 minutes a day, studies have shown that individuals who spend time in nature, especially when water is involved, saw an increase in self-esteem. Our outdoor adventure therapy adds an additional layer to this by teaching new skills such as surfing and rafting. These experiences will teach our students they are capable of doing hard things, which boosts their self-esteem in the moment and for years to come.

8. Improved Sleep

So many aspects of our life can affect our quality of sleep. When we often struggle to close our eyes at night, we aren’t even sure what is keeping us awake. The outdoors can help you reset your sleep cycle. The cells in our eyes need enough light to trigger our internal clock to work properly. Combining the outdoor benefits of exercise, reduced stress and anxiety, improved focus, and mood boosters is just one more added benefit to ensure you get the restful sleep your body needs.

9. Connects Us With Our Surroundings

During a psychology study, participants who experienced nature in a more intimate setting were more inclined to show signs of empathy and respectful behavior towards nature, as well as others around them. Connecting to our environment wholly and on a personal level allows us the ability to foster empathy and feelings of understanding that can guide how we interact and continually care for those around us.

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The Science Behind Nature’s Healing Effects on Mental Health

A few proposed hypotheses explain why spending time outdoors is so beneficial. One theory is called the biophilia hypothesis, and it assumes that because we evolved in nature, our bodies and brains gravitate toward being in it. Being outside feels familiar to the oldest parts of our brains and helps to regulate our nervous system, reassuring us that we are connected and safe. 

The stress reduction hypothesis is just what it sounds like—our bodies and minds will show fewer signs of stress when we spend time outside. This is for a number of reasons, including a higher chance of exercise, social connection, vitamin D, and the benefits of attuning to our environment. Another possible theory is that nature literally replenishes our cognitive functioning. This theory is called the attention restoration theory and states that when we are outside, our brains naturally feel better when we step out of our routine and into the fresh air. 

By enjoying beautiful scenes, whether it’s the top of a mountain or a bird hopping down the sidewalk, we stop the chatter in our brains and increase focus. Ultimately, there are so many theories and studies that seek to understand exactly why our brains and bodies seem to respond so positively to time outside. 

It is likely a combination of many factors, including hormone dumps when we spend time outside (a huge dump of serotonin and dopamine, reward hormones, and a reduction in cortisol, a stress hormone). We see the evidence of these theories in our program, but you don’t have to go to Costa Rica to get the benefits of spending time outside. 

How Physical Activity in Nature Enhances Cognitive and Emotional Well-Being

Any movement, regardless of location, will significantly impact brain function and emotional regulation, but being active outside is even better. One study found that the sensory input we receive outside helps our brains produce more serotonin and reduces cortisol, which both support better cognitive performance. Additionally, some perceive exercising outside to be easier than exercising inside, increasing the likelihood of consistent exercise and even longer durations of exercise. Absorbing vitamin D through outdoor exercise also increases mental and physical health, as this critical vitamin supports many functions in the body. 

Practical Tips to Incorporate More Outdoor Time in Everyday Life

We know being outdoors is good for us on almost every level. But actually walking out the door can be challenging, even when we know it’s the right move. Our biggest recommendation when it comes to spending time outdoors is to find something you can not wait to do outside and prioritize that activity. You might have to start out small—like drinking your coffee on the porch in the morning, but eventually, you’ll see the benefits of spending time outdoors, and you can add more activities to your list. Here are some of the best outdoor activities you can try: 

  • Walking 
  • Gardening
  • Biking
  • Rollerblading/rollerskating
  • Hiking
  • Golfing
  • Bird watching
  • Find a collection (rocks, feathers, seeds, flowers)
  • Read at a park
  • Swim
  • Visit a playground
  • Outdoor exercise class
  • Ski/snowboard
  • Try a new sport
  • Play sports 
  • Enjoy a farmer’s market
  • Eat outdoors at restaurants

Remember to consider important factors like the weather, your social battery (if you need time with a friend, a walk is a great way to multi-task!), and physical limitations when choosing an activity. Start with something easy and approachable, stay consistent, and be amazed at how increasing time outside will increase your mental health. 

What Is Outdoor Adventure Therapy For Young Adults and Adolescents? 

Pure Life’s outdoor adventure therapy bring the health benefits of the outdoors to the forefront. Young people who need guidance with mental health issues, want to experience a meaningful gap year, or discover how to progress forward in life are guided through life-changing experiences. Pure Life’s outdoor therapy includes surfing, rappelling, whitewater rafting as well as community service with the Costa Rican locals to build self-esteem, confidence, and more.

Pure Life Adventure is now part of the Association for Experiential Education AEE Accredited. Our outdoor adventure therapy intertwines the benefits of the outdoors with the guidance of licensed therapists. Our therapists hold group therapy sessions with students and individually to ensure each student’s specific needs are being addressed.

If you are a young adult who is feeling lost in life, struggling with mental health, or just needs a change of pace from the rigors of school or life, reach out to Pure Life Adventure today. Our outdoor adventure therapy provides experiences that will improve who you are at your core. You will create memories and experiences you’ll carry with you beyond your outdoor adventure in Costa Rica. You’ll try surfing, rappelling, white water rafting and have the opportunity to serve the community. You will find that both your mental and physical health improve significantly, and you’ll feel better all around.

If you are a parent who is watching your teen or young adult tread water due to mental illness, lack of direction, focus, or desire to move on in life, Pure Life Adventure wants to help. Our outdoor therapy addresses a wide facet of life struggles that can cripple young adults and teaches them how to be productive, confident while taking charge of their life.

Contact Pure Life Adventure today for more information on how you or your young adult can start experiencing a life they never knew was possible.

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