Spending time outdoors is a simple yet effective way to increase your happiness. It has been shown that spending time in nature can combat anxiety and depression and lower stress levels. Research also suggests that spending time outside improves mental and physical health by increasing vitamin D intake, fighting seasonal affective disorder (SAD), improving sleep quality, reducing allergies, lowering blood pressure levels, and boosting the immune system.
With all these benefits, families must invest in their homes’ outdoor living areas to spend more time outdoors. Most of the time, homeowners neglect their outdoor living areas because they are too busy with work, school, and other personal commitments. Homeowners should maximize the healing powers of nature so that they can lead healthier and happier lives.
The Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors
Nowadays, a lot of people spend a lot of time cooped up indoors. The lure of gadgets and the Internet has pushed people to spend more time watching movies and interacting with their phones instead of enjoying the outdoors. Below are the benefits of spending time outdoors:
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Better health outcomes are guaranteed
People who spend time outdoors are healthier than those who do not. Spending time outside increases the amount of vitamin D that a person’s body absorbs, thus improving their mood, boosting their energy levels, reducing their risk for certain kinds of cancer, and slowing down aging effects on skin cells.
Therefore, it is worth it for people to spend a couple of minutes outdoors every day. They can do this by engaging in gardening or simply spending time in their garden talking to other members of the family or their friends if they invite them over.
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Better mental health
Spending time outdoors is also good for people’s mental health outcomes. After all, vitamin D and the fresh air can make people happier and eliminate stress more effectively. As a result, spending time outdoors can help reduce the likelihood of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Spending more time outside also reduces stress levels by giving individuals some alone or quiet time that they might not have if they are stuck inside all day. Furthermore, spending time in nature can reduce stress and increase feelings of relaxation.
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Helping people stay happy
The healing powers of nature are not just good for people’s mental health. Natural areas can also help improve physical ailments, alleviate pain, and reduce the likelihood of individuals developing different diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. For example, spending time outdoors in nature lowers blood pressure levels by decreasing stress so that it is much lower when outside than inside a home or office building.
Additionally, spending time in nature can help improve an individual’s mood and mental health, reducing symptoms of depression. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), spending just 20 minutes a day outside can significantly lower rates of suicide all around the world.
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Making people more inspired
Spending time outdoors can also help people become more inspired. According to researchers, spending time outdoors can make individuals feel restored and rejuvenated to be ready for the next day’s challenges instead of feeling tired or lethargic. Therefore, people who spend time outdoors are more likely to be more productive than those who do not.
How Homeowners Can Improve their Outdoor Living Areas
There are plenty of ways that homeowners can improve their outdoor living areas to spend more time outdoors with their family or friends. Below are some examples:
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Investing in landscape services
Homeowners can pay for the services of a landscape artist to redesign their outdoor areas. A landscape artist can ensure that the outdoor living spaces are aesthetically appealing, which is essential for spending time outdoors. The use of plants and flowers in these outdoor areas also makes them more visually pleasing to look at, so homeowners will be happy spending time there instead of feeling bored or tired after a long day’s work.
Homeowners can also pay for the services of a tree specialist if they want to have trees in their lawns or gardens. Trees can give their outdoor spaces a country or rustic look, which is also aesthetically pleasing.
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Taking up gardening as a hobby
Homeowners can also improve their homes’ outdoor areas by engaging in gardening. Gardening can give their outdoor spaces a natural look, and it is also beneficial for the homeowner’s health since spending time in these areas can help reduce stress levels.
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Building a patio or deck
Homeowners can also build patios or decks in their homes’ outdoor areas. By doing so, homeowners will be able to spend more time outdoors comfortably. This way, they will be able to benefit from the healing powers of nature more.
Nature’s Way of Healing and Inspiring
Spending time outdoors can also help people to feel inspired and healed. This is because spending time outdoors allows them to get in touch with nature, which can benefit the mind, body, and spirit. Therefore, homeowners should strive to spend more time outdoors to feel inspired and healed with their family members or friends.