6 Benefits To Going Outside In The Fall And Winter

Even though it's getting colder, there's no reason to become a couch potato. Over the years a rich body of scientific research into the benefits of being outside has shown time and again that the more often we get out of the house, the happier and healthier we become. Here are six reasons why you should put on your favorite flannel or jacket and head outside, rain, snow or shine. Fight Seasonal Depression Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a biological condition in which your body produces depression-like symptoms as a result of decreased exposure to sunlight and low levels of vitamin D. While you can't sunbathe in 60-degree weather, the amount of light you can get even on cold, cloudy days is enough to counteract the most extreme symptoms of SAD. Make time to go on at least one short walk outside, on your lunch break, on your way home from work, or as an afterschool activity with the kids, to make sure you're getting enough sun. Improve Your Mood After the second, third or even fourth blizzard of the season, it's easy to see the snow and clouds as another obstacle on your way to work. But beautiful snowy scenery and the tangled skeletons of trees without their leaves can leave you with a different feeling entirely: awe. Find a way to focus on the vastness of your natural surroundings, like the infinite shapes of snowflakes or a light mist of snow on naked branches to tap into powerful feelings of awe that are sure to boost your mood. Update Your Workout If you a...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news