Summer is here and families will spend more time outside dining, playing, relaxing, and gardening as the weather improves. I finally got to get out to the lake this last weekend for the Memorial Holiday and enjoy some sunshine, boating, and wakeboarding!
While like me, you may enjoy being outside, you may not know that getting outside is also good for their health. I am still on my Happy “High” from this weekend, so this actually comes to no surprise to me, as I’m sure it doesn’t to many of you either, but The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) outlines five health benefits of getting outside you may not have known:
Also, be sure to check out my Instagram Video Here to see my own little Outdoor Slice of Heaven.
Reason #1: Your lawn can make you happier! Our stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces. Knowing and experiencing nature makes us generally happier, healthier people.
Reason #2: Getting dirty is good for you! Mycobacterium vaccae in soil mirrors the effect on neurons that Prozac provides. Give your kids a pair of gardening gloves and have them work with you in your green spaces for a hefty dose of Vitamin N(ature) and G(reen). People who spend time gardening and have direct contact with soil feel more relaxed and happier.
Reason #3: Exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children. Children gain attention and working memory benefits when they are exposed to greenery.
Reason #4: Living landscapes help people and pets be healthier. Playing outdoors increases fitness levels and builds healthy, active bodies. Research also shows that children reap numerous health, social and personal benefits from spending time outside playing.
Reason #5: Your lawn produces lots of oxygen and cleans the air too. Fifty square feet of grass generates enough oxygen each day for a family of four and reduces the “code red” effect since grass removes pollutants from the air we breathe.
“Our living landscapes not only provide beauty, but are a stress-reliever, a recreational space, a wildlife habitat, and an outdoor living area,” said Kris Kiser, President, and CEO, OPEI. “Studies show that our green spaces contribute to our health, happiness, and intellect.”
Our outdoor living spaces offer great health benefits to us. Trees, shrubs, grass and flowering plants are integral to human health. They provide a place for children and pets to play and directly contribute to our mental and physical well-being.
Hope You Enjoy a Happy Summer with Plenty of Outdoor Time!
What are some of your favorite outdoor summer activities? Let me know in the comments, I love hearing from you!
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All of these are very true. I love working in my lawn and gardens all spring and summer. If it ever stops raining for more than 1 day at a time I will be able to get out there.