It should not come as a surprise that a significant number of us are suffering from nature deficit disorder given that we as a culture are venturing outside for lesser and fewer hours each year. It is to our detriment that we do not spend more time outside, since several studies have shown that being exposed to natural settings has positive effects on one’s physical and mental health. Here are seven evidence-based ways that spending more time outdoors may benefit your health and overall quality of life.

You will receive more physical exercise. When we are outside, we tend to move about more. We move around more and investigate our immediate environment. In point of fact, research has shown that each hour spent outside leads to seven minutes more of physical activity, a few hundred additional steps taken, and thirteen fewer minutes spent sitting inactive. Being outdoors is a great way to have fun, if you’re planning on taking your truck out into nature but require some accessories to help you along, go ahead and check out digital tyre deflator, for all your outdoor needs.

Makes it possible to breathe air that has a higher quality. The quality of the air inside most buildings is much lower than that outside. In point of fact, research suggests that those who spend a significant amount of time inside are more likely to be exposed to infectious illnesses and common allergens (such as dust and pet dander) and may even be more likely to acquire chronic respiratory disorders.

Improves people’s ability to interact socially. Being outside stimulates our urge to seek and develop social interactions. Enhancing one’s social relationships not only helps to reduce the intensity of one’s feelings of isolation but also has a generally positive effect on one’s mental health.

Bolsters mood.  Forests and other natural habitats are often thought of as therapeutic landscapes since they have been shown to have numerous good benefits on people’s psychological well-being. In point of fact, research that was conducted not too long ago and published in a well-known journal has discovered that being exposed to forests is linked to higher levels of liveliness as well as lower levels of tension, aggression, and sadness.

Boosts your immune system. Inhaling the naturally found and airborne oils found in the trees, leaves, and soil of the wilderness, also known as phytoncides, helps boost the functioning of the immune system. According to the findings of a study conducted in Japan, test subjects showed increases in the activity of their natural killer (NK) cells (i.e., cells that help in the prevention of cancer) in the week following a visit to the forest, and these beneficial effects persisted for a period following every visit to the forest.

Has a calming effect. It has been shown that lower levels of cortisol may be achieved by increasing one’s time spent outside, particularly in wooded regions. Spending time in natural settings has been shown to have profoundly beneficial effects on both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic response nerve systems in humans. People report feeling less worried and more relaxed as a general result. It’s interesting to note that some medical professionals are actually advising their patients to go for walks outside as a component of their therapy regimens for dealing with tension and worry.