Go Outside, Bitches!
Have you gone outside recently?
From massive To DO lists and our day-to-day craziness of life to working on conquering the world or creating an entire non-toxic, clean beauty revolution 😜😜😜, it's easy to forget to carve out time to care for our health and wellbeing. Being a full time business owner, my days fly by and when my work day is over, despite my best intentions, I’m too tired to really do anything. Now that the weather is getting warmer, I’ve challenged myself to wake up earlier and extend my day to focus on spending time outside. I can already feel a difference in my energy, mood, and skin. Hello to my new glow! Can we say, “Glow Girl!”
Time Outdoors / Image Credit: Cathlin McCullough
time outside
The studies on how nature improves human health and well-being are endless. From reducing stress to reconnecting with the self, spending time outdoors is a priceless (we all loveeee a good deal) and timeless step to physical and mental benefits. I want to share a small handful of health benefits from spending time outside, as well as some tips on how to alter your everyday life to fit in some outdoor time in your busy schedule!
Biking / Image Credit: Conor Luddy, Unsplash
inside and outside our body
Stress pimples...Ever heard of her? I’m sure you’ve experienced a time of heightened stress and anxiety and have seen it affect your skin. Stress and anxiety cause hormonal changes in your body. Hormonal changes cause hormonal breakouts... you know, those under the skin pain in the a*s.’ Spending time outdoors reduces blood pressure, heart rate, and the production of stress hormones. To put it simply, the less stress, the better your skin. Easy right? LOL
Go out and say hello, sun
Spending time outdoors not only helps balance stress, but it is a necessity in vitamin production to stay healthy. Hello sun, hello vitamin D!
Vitamin D is important for various reasons, like promoting bone growth and helping to regulate the immune system. Put on your SPF and a hat, soak in some sun, and let the sun fuel your body’s production of vitamin D. Speaking of immunity, spending time outdoors increases levels of white blood cells, which help our bodies fight off infections and diseases. Pretty important under all of our current circumstances.
Outdoor Yogi / Image Credit: @museumofpeaceandquiet
There is a spiritual element to nature that we can all connect to. Humans have written about these connections for probably as long as time. Nature provides a place of calm and connection, without reminders of tasks and all forms of mental toil. We can relax our minds and let our souls take over. One of my favorite authors, Hans Christian Andersen, once said, “Just living is not enough...one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”
Picnic with Friends / Image Credit: Mason Dahl, Unsplash
You don’t have to completely change your lifestyle to achieve the great benefits of spending time outdoors. Simply alter your everyday activities:
Take your coffee outside. Start your morning with nature!
WFH? Spice up your scenery and take a meeting on your front porch.
Move your daily activities outside (opening your mail, checking your emails, plucking your brows, whatever it is!).
Sunset meditation.
If you’re near water, kayaking can be so peaceful.
Start a walking club with your friends.
Picnic at the park.
Rooftop yoga.
Forget your car keys, hop on a bike around town to run errands.
Get (or make) a bird feeder and watch them dig in!
Kayaking, Lady Bird Lake / Image Credit: Afar
Soaking / Image Credit: @ciscokidadventures, Instagram
NYC Rooftop Yoga / Image Credit: Yoga Journal
It’s been a stressful year. A lot of us are desperate for a source of escape and distraction from the “real” world. Trust me, sitting outside for even 20 minutes welcomes you to unplug and reset your energy. Make sure you set the intention and actually write it in your calendar. Leave your phone inside and enjoy our Mother Earth. Nature is such a powerful gift and I urge you to not forget about her as a tool to better your inner and outer self!
Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/cassidyrandall/2020/04/09/why-going-outside-is-good-for-your-health-especially-right-now/?sh=5e352d502de9
https://www.businessinsider.com/why-spending-more-time-outside-is-healthy-2017-7
https://www.wellandgood.com/healthy-skin-outdoors-mother-dirt/
https://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/features/the-truth-about-vitamin-d-why-you-need-vitamin-d
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/625945/thermacell-mosquito-repellent-lantern?utm_content=infinitescroll1
https://www.spiritbutton.com/inspirational-nature-quotes/#ixzz6rlgPR9sn
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