The days are getting shorter, it will start to get colder and if we don’t actively do anything about it the time we spend outside will reduce.
I love camping as you are forced to spend time outdoors and it makes a big difference to my day. From the moment you wake up you have to step outside to do all of life's simple tasks like cleaning your teeth or doing the washing up. Being outside helps me notice how big and vast the sky is, how far away the sun or moon is and life's problems just feel a bit smaller.
However, I know we will do less (if any) camping over the winter and the amount of sunlight and time outside I get will be less as there isn't as much chance for exposure.
This isn't a reason to give up as the benefits are just too big to miss out on.
A 2023 survey [1] of 2,000 UK adults revealed people who spend more time outside are healthier, happier, more energetic, and more productive than those who do not. Those who spent 20 hours or more per week in a green space were 41% more productive on an average day than those who spent less than 30 minutes outside.
Three quarters of them said time in nature or green spaces gives them 'a boost of happiness that keeps them going all day'. 80% of respondents find spending time in green spaces makes them healthier and more energetic; 70% feel better physically and mentally.
Here are the benefits people reported of spending time outside:
improved mood (75%)
immune benefits (36%)
sleeping more soundly (28%)
feeling less stressed (38%)
Here are the consequences people reported of spending less time outside:
sluggish (37%)
tired (25%)
irritable (20%)
less inclined to look after their wellbeing (66%)
What can we do about it?
Get out of the house every day: this could be standing in your garden, putting the bins out and taking a moment, walking round the block, or walking to a friends or whilst on the phone
Plan an outdoor activity at the weekend: visit somewhere new or plan to meet up with a friend for a walking coffee
Invest in some good winter clothing and/or an umbrella: minimise the barriers to getting outside#
Plan to walk or cycle rather than using the car wherever possible
Accept the weather won't be as warm or dry: find the rhythm in and feel the cleansing of the rain, see the beauty in and enjoy the freshness of the cold, and make the most of the sunnier days!
Through autumn and winter everyone in the UK is recommended to take Vitamin D (10 micrograms daily), and recommended to take it all year round if you: are not often outdoors, usually wear clothes that cover up most of their skin when outdoors, or have dark skin – for example you have an African, African-Caribbean or south Asian background.
Stay ‘healthier, happier, more energetic, and more productive’ throughout the darker months by getting outside!
Reference:
[1] The Greener Communities Fund is a collaboration from NHS Charities Together and Hubbub that hopes to boost the public’s health and wellbeing.
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