Spending Time in Nature Boosts Your Mental and Physical Health

Nature is the remedy for emotional, spiritual and physical well being. The more time we spend in nature, the better our health and overall disposition. It balances us. Urban environments tend to be hectic and stress filled. When people get an opportunity to step away, it provides a much needed time to rest and recharge. As we become more aware of the importance of green space to our health, many cities have invested in creating more open spaces for their residents.

Costa Rica has a long established reputation for being a place that is very much about nature. Here people are able to connect with nature daily. This factor may be one of the main reasons Costa Ricans tend to be in good health, experience lower stress and anxiety levels as well as a long life expectancy. The average life expectancy is 79.4 years. Spending time in nature recharges the soul and mind while energizing the body. It builds strength and resilience, and helps people to remain centered and balanced.

Whether it’s a walk in a park, strolling the beach or hiking through the forest, spending time in nature improves every aspect of our health, and has even been scientifically proven to benefit our brain chemistry. There’s something about nature that positively impacts our physiology. It’s been proven people who live in urban environments have higher levels of anxiety and depression than those who live in more natural settings. Nature is good for our overall mental health.

We also know that when we exercise outdoors instead of inside, physically we get more Vitamin D, which is a nutrient many people in the western world are deficient in. This deficiency leads to chronic health problems. Part of the problem we face in our current age is that our reliance on technology and addiction to devices means people spend less time outdoors and in nature and more times on their screens. Science shows us that this is neither good for our physical nor mental health. Too much screen time leads to social isolation and poor health.

When we spend time in nature with people it helps us strengthen our relationships too. Modern life is filled with distractions and when we get a chance to be outdoors with family and friends, it provides the vital time needed to connect and form strong intimate bonds with the people we care about. Technology and media is pervasive in every area of our life and finding time to be quiet and reflect is critical to our overall health. Spending time with nature solo gives us time to check in with ourselves and see how we are doing. It has a tendency to boast our overall mood too.

Making time to get outdoors will improve every aspect of your health. It builds physical and mental strength, lifts your mood and provides much needed time to restore balance. It’s one of the big factors in ensuring you life a happy, long life.