Today’s topic of discussion will be: why should we spend time outdoors? I thought that this would be a good first post so that you can get an idea of the benefits of being outside. Not only are there tons of health benefits but being in the natural world can improve your mood and make you happier.

Let’s talk about the essential nutrient called vitamin D. This is called an essential nutrient because it is just that, it’s essential for proper maintenance of the human body. Specifically, it is needed for building and maintaining healthy bones. Bones are primarily made up of calcium, and the calcium you consume can only be absorbed when vitamin D is present (https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-d/art-20363792). The most common way we get vitamin D is from being in the sun! That’s right, all you have to do is go outside and bathe yourself in the sun. After a few minutes of sun exposure on bare skin, we are able to produce this vitamin ourselves. It is important to have enough of this vitamin because it prevents multiple diseases. Over a billion people world-wide are vitamin D deficient (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068797/). Don’t be a part of that statistic, get your vitamins from being outside.

Getting outside is an easy way to get your body moving and get some fresh air. Think about it, most of the time you’re outside you’re doing something somewhat active. Whether that’s walking, yard work, running, or playing a sport. The time spent being outside is less time spent being indoors and sitting down in front of our many screens, living a sedentary life. It is estimated that people today spend 90% of their life indoors. My favorite thing to do outside is to exercise. I love running long distances on trails around Ball State and the Muncie area. Running outside is a lot better than inside because it’s so much more exciting and feels natural. We already know that activity increases well-being, so being outside can only be better.

There has also been research and anecdotal evidence supporting the idea that people who spend time outdoors are happier and have an improved sense of well-being as a result (http://web.b.ebscohost.com.proxy.bsu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=10&sid=ecbc6624-3297-42a1-97ba-c4176c179c09%40sessionmgr102). I know from personal experience that I have an improved mood when I am more connected with the natural world. All I know is that I would much rather be walking through a park on a sunny afternoon than be reclined on a couch watching T.V.