Why It’s Important to Go Outside Even When It’s Cold Out

When the weather gets freezing in Warren, your first instinct would be to hibernate for the winter. However, there are various valid grounds to keep going outside, even when it’s cold out there. Research shows that staying indoors too much can have a real strain on your mental and physical health. Even though you are sheltering in place, you should do as much as you can to take in a bit of fresh air and sunlight every single day. But really, if you’re still not motivated, here are five good reasons to dress warm and head out into the cold.

1. Daylight boosts your mood.

Sunlight in small doses can make you happier. Sunlight produces more serotonin, a natural chemical in the brain that enables you to feel perfectly well. Although natural light is really good for your mood in many other different ways, as well. In the winter, natural light is kind of harder to come by, so you’ll need to go outside to get the full effect. If you can’t go far, even spending some time on a porch, balcony, or yard on a sunny day can get you to feel more cheerful.

2. Sunlight helps prevent disease.

If sunlight hits the skin, it prompts the body to create and activate vitamin D. Studies have shown that a lack of vitamin D can result in a broad range of serious mental and physical health issues, from depression to osteoporosis. Just merely a bit of time in the sun, though it’s cold out, can actually help increase your body’s ability to fight off all sorts of problems, for instance cancers, heart attacks, and more.

3. Spending time outdoors can improve your memory.

Another fascinating effect of spending time outdoors is that walking around can help improve your memory – specifically if you can walk around a park or other natural scenery. Studies have shown that interacting with nature can improve recall by almost 20%, which doesn’t happen when walking around the city streets. However, if you don’t have accessibility to green spaces, every little bit or occasion spent doing physical activity outdoors can ease stress and improve your concentration.

4. Going outside is good exercise.

Taking time away from the couch (and the kitchen) can be a great part of a healthier lifestyle. People who spend more time outdoors, even in cold weather, tend to get more exercise. Even a brisk walk around the block or the local park can count a lot towards your physical strength and endurance. If there are outdoor activities that you desire, try figuring out a strategy to enjoy them all year round.

5. Sunlight boosts your immune system.

Do you often catch a lot of colds and cases of flu in the wintertime? It may be on the account that you aren’t getting enough sun during those months. Researchers have found that spending time outdoors helps decrease stress hormones in the body, improving your immunity. Even with the accepted view that being cold will bring you to catch a cold, the opposite is true. Fulfilling physical activity outside can help flush bacteria out of your airways, helping you avoid catching those nasty seasonal illnesses.

Even in the case that you can’t go far, there are lots of valid reasons to bundle up and spend some time feeling that winter sun on your face.

Are you looking for a Warren rental home with parks and other amenities nearby? We can help! Contact us today online or call us at 248-259-2575.