19 Physical & Mental Benefits of Being Outside

It really should come as no surprise that we humans are spending less and less time outdoors and it’s having an effect on our physical and mental wellbeing. We take you through 19 scientifically backed benefits of being outside to help convince you to get out there once in a while!

Getting outdoors offers plenty of rewards of which we’re all aware: nice scenery, wildlife spottings, a challenge to our physical and mental mettle, and that time-honored benediction of getting “a bit of fresh air.” Wouldn’t it be dandy if doing so also came with a number of other benefits, such as seriously bettering our mental and physical well-being, boosting our creativity, reducing stress, and improving our sleep patterns?

Well, dear reader, these are indeed just a few of the many benefits to be reaped from spending more time out and about in nature. Not bad, right? But also not all . . . not by a long shot!

In this article, we’re going to cover all of the above and also introduce you to the somewhat vast number of other health benefits of being in nature. After that, we’ll take a look at why being outside is important and how to go about getting your fix of outdoor goodness, even when you’re busy or geographically deprived as regards proximity to the world’s more illustrious outdoor stomping grounds.

Continue reading at https://www.myopencountry.com/benefits-being-outside/#content.

Written by Kieran James Cunningham, contributing editor with MyOpenCountry, a campaign to get people more excited about the outdoors. Its web site features articles on hiking, camping, and backpacking skills; trip guides; and gear reviews. Cunningham is a climber, mountaineer, and writer based in the Italian Alps.

**This article was submitted to the Loop by myopencountry.com editor Karen Connelly.