Senior Living

The Great Outdoors

Woody Allen is one of the world’s most celebrated wits, but the actor and movie director was surely jesting when he once said: “I love nature; I just don’t want any of it on me.”

For a more realistic view of the benefits of the great outdoors, it’s perhaps better to study the words of a man born almost 150 years earlier, author Hans Christian Anderson. “Just living is not enough…one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower,” he said.

What is it about breathing in a lungful of fresh air that causes many people to make the above statements? The answer is simple: It enhances well-being in a myriad of ways. It is well known that enjoying the great wide outdoors can increase fitness. But various scientific studies have officially confirmed that exposure to green spaces can also have longterm medical benefits. These health boosts include cutting the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Mentally, feelings of anxiety are reduced, while sleep duration increases.

Spending time in nature certainly makes us feel healthier, but until now, the impact on our long-term well-being hasn’t been fully understood. Research finds that spending time in, or living close to, natural green spaces is associated with diverse and significant health benefits.

Whether or not you are fortunate enough to live in an area where there is plenty of green space, there are plenty of ways you can turn the environment to your advantage. Just sitting outside for 20 minutes can give you as much energy as a cup of coffee, so why not ditch the caffeine? Those who opt for a walk within a green space report feeling less tired and more positive, leading to a conclusion that grass, trees, and plants can give a psychological boost. There are other health-enhancing activities properties of green space to consider, too.

Sunlight is said to be better for your vision than artificial light and can help to mitigate pain. Breathing in airborne chemicals produced by greenery also increases white blood cells, which help to fight infection.

There’s no need to pay for expensive aromatherapy as taking time to stop and smell roses, pine trees, and mown grass will provide instant serenity. If you’re one of those people who are glued to a laptop or cell phone, switch it off-or lock it away-and spend a few days in the countryside gadget-free. The electronic detox is guaranteed to make you relax, and psychologists claim it will also make you more creative.

Being surrounded by nature restores mental focus, too, allowing you to ward off depression and stress and prioritize the important things in life such as relationships and community involvement.

So as spring approaches, what are you waiting for?

Now is the time to go outside and watch as our environment turns greener and greener – flowers pop up, the sky is bluer, and the sunshine is warmer. Listen to the birds, watch for daffodils, and tilt your head to the sunshine. Give it the green light today!