Many of us live in a fast-paced, technology-packed whirlwind. You essentially stare at a screen from the moment you rise to the moment you hit the sack. In between, you do your best to cook, clean, watch some entertainment and take care of your family. As a result, we spend 90 percent of our day indoors. It shouldn’t be this way. Yes, technology makes our lives much more convenient but the drawback is we have become technological vampires.
How many of us even bother to spend more than 10 minutes outdoors on any given day? This lifestyle would have been unheard of just five decades ago. And, while we’re getting more social on our devices, we’re become more anti-social in real life. All this indoor and device-driven time is negatively impacting our health. As a result, you should make it a priority to spend more time outdoors.
Indoor air pollution is horrible
You might think the air pollution in your home is better than the smog of the city. In a sense, you would be wrong. According to the EPA, some pollutants can be 100 times higher indoors than outdoors. Think of things you’re exposed to such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide and dangerous chemicals from your cleaning supplies.
In addition, there are chemicals from building materials and furnishings. You can increase ventilation, but you can also go outside for some fresh air and to clear out your lungs. If you spend too much time breathing indoor air, you probably experience more fatigue too.
Explore the outdoors on a road trip
There are so many camping sites you can enjoy with your friends and family. This is a way to ensure you are outdoors for several days or more. Even the most luxurious spa in the world can’t compete with the invigoration your mind and body receives from spending time with nature. If you need suggestions on outdoor-friendly places to visit, you can check out Outdoorsy’s list of travel destinations which includes cities such as the beautiful Destin, Florida and The Columbia River.
Lower your stress levels
According to the International Union of Forest Research Organizations, natural environments are better than urban settings at decreasing muscle tension, blood pressure and heart rates. It certainly makes sense that you would be more stressed in an urban setting with crowds of people, traffic, pollution and more.
It’s much more relaxing to walk through an open field, dip your toes in a pond or sleep under the stars. Plus, spending time in the forest can help to lower cortisol, which is a stress hormone. What’s the best part of spending time in nature to lower stress levels? There are no side effects other than inner peace and joy.
You can think more clearly
It’s hard to focus when you hear people yelling over one another, hear sirens at all hours of the night and the buzzing of factories and office buildings. It’s enough to make you mad. In contrast, the natural world can help to improve our thinking as natural environments demand less from us than busy urban centers. We can now concentrate better and recover from mental fatigue. Your brain operates differently when your outdoors than when you’re at your desk. Makes you wonder if all of our technological advances are as good for us as they’re marketed to be.
One of the best ways to explore the outdoors is in an RV! Think about it: you’ll get all the benefits of being outside without having to compromise your creature comforts. That’s especially important to those of us who have trouble envisioning a day without technology and appliances. In an RV, you have the freedom and flexibility to travel wherever you want, whenever you want – and to call it quits if you start getting too tired (or sunburned).
Here’s the kicker: you’ll still notice the effects of spending time in nature even if you just go RVing for the weekend. Spending just a few days outdoors resets your circadian rhythm, helps you sleep better, and decreases depression and anxiety. Plus, with P2P rental sites like RVshare, you can save some serious cash on short and long-term RV rentals, and saving money is always an instant mood boost. Check out their blog for weekend road trip ideas that will leave you feeling refreshed and fulfilled.
Spending more time outdoors should come naturally to all of us. Imagine how much richer your life would be if you made consistent outdoor time a priority and a reality.
