Get Outside Every Day
It is important to get outdoors for at least 30 minutes every day. There are many benefits including fresh air, movement, connecting with nature, and supporting your hormone regulation.
Yes, you should do this even in the colder winter months when it seems like the Pacific Northwest’s rains will never stop!
Benefits of Going Outside
When we get outside we engage in movement that is essential to circulate blood to all our vital organs and lymphatics…and there is far more lymph that flows through the body than blood. Lymph is full of immune cells and waste products that are carried away from the cells, but lymph is primarily moved through the contraction of muscles.
Our muscles are pumps for the lymph much like the heart is the pump for blood, so it is vitally important to get them moving every day.
Benefits of Time In The Fresh Air
We also need to get outdoors to escape, relax, connect with nature, and breathe fresh air. We are not designed to stay indoors all the time – we need to get fresh air. Often there are fears of pollution and toxicities in today’s air, but in fact the largest supply of pollution in our air supply is found indoors.
Indoor air is often stagnant, filled with dust, dust mites, molds, and the off-gassing of paints, carpets and cleaning supplies. If you can’t get outside open your windows for at least 15 minutes to improve air quality.
Improve Your Circadian Rhythm By Spending Time Outdoors
Another important part of getting outdoors is that daylight helps support the regulation of hormones, specifically the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is what regulates proper sleep and wake cycles.
Remember, rain or shine, your body needs 30 minutes outside a day to keep you healthy!
