Over the last four weeks, life has changed drastically for UK citizens as many adaptations have had to be made to our day to day routines. Many of us are furloughed spending time with their families and making special memories, some of us are working from home and staying safe and millions of us spread across the UK are still working and risking our health for others. Our Key Workers; we thank you.
While spending so much time at home, it made may hard to remain positive and motivated. However, don’t you worry, The Adventure Service has your back. As you are aware, we are uploading two Facebook Live videos a day, with interactive activities you can take part in at home. Most of which take part outside.
We get one hour of outdoor exercise a day and it is important that you make the most of this. As the spring days draw in, it’s an idea to spend some time in your garden taking in the sunshine. Being outdoors has many benefits and I am going to share some of them with you now!
1. Being Outdoors BOOSTS Your Energy Craving another cup of coffee? Maybe you should skip the caffeine and sit outside instead. Studies suggests that spending 20 minutes in the open air gives your brain an energy boost comparable to one cuppa.
2. It Feels EASIER to Exercise Outdoors Does it seem noticeably easier to exercise outside? In one study, researchers had cyclists pedal in front of green, grey, and red video footage. The bikers who exercised in front of the green reported feeling less physical exertion and more positive moods—meaning that grass, trees, and plants might add a psychological energy boost to your workout.
3. Natural Sunlight HELP Ease Pain Surgery patients who were exposed to high-intensity sunlight reported less stress and marginally less pain, and therefore took less pain medication.
4. The Outdoors BOOSTS Your Immune System Scientists think that breathing in phytoncides—airborne chemicals produced by plants—increases our levels of white blood cells, helping us fight off infections and diseases.
5. The Outdoors Provides you with FREE Aromatherapy According to science, you really should stop and smell the flowers. Research shows that natural scents like roses, freshly cut grass, and pine make you feel calmer and more relaxed.
6. The Outdoors ENHANCES Creativity If you’re struggling with writer’s block, you might want to ditch your laptop for the great outdoors. Psychologists found that backpackers scored 50 percent higher on creativity tests after spending a few days in the wild sans electronics.
7. The Outdoors Helps with Seasonal Affective Disorder In the winter, shorter days and lower light levels can trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD—a reoccurring condition that’s marked by symptoms of anxiety, exhaustion, and sadness. Doctors say spending time outside can lessen SAD’s severity—even if the weather’s cold or overcast.
8. Being Outdoors Gives you your Daily Dose of VITAMIN D Vitamin D is essential for a well-functioning body. It helps us absorb calcium, it prevents osteoporosis, and it reduces inflammation, among other things. Although vitamin D is present in some foods, like salmon and fortified milk, we get more than 90 percent of our vitamin D from casual exposure to sunlight.
9. The Outdoors RESTORES Your Focus Can’t concentrate at while working from home? Leave your ‘office’ for a few minutes and go stroll in a nearby park. Studies show that walking in nature helps restore our focus.
10. The Outdoors Makes us BETTER People According to psychologists, exposure to nature helps us shrug off societal pressures, allowing us to remember and value more important things like relationships, sharing, and community.
From The Adventure Service to you, we hope you are all staying safe and staying well. We miss you and hope to see you soon.