In our healthy mind & body blog you will find some useful tips and advice on how to help increase your physical and mental well being. These are tried and tested by us the creators of Moorbank Health & Well-Being Services, along with some of our clients we support and are also supported by research.
The power of fresh air is easily underestimated, taking the time to go out for a walk can make a huge difference to your mood. You could go for a drive out somewhere and take in them new and different views or simply go for a walk in your local park. Planning an activity like this for the day is a great way to make sure you spend a portion of your time out of the house, blow off those cobwebs, whilst getting your daily exercise and having a change of scene while you’re at it!
Today we are going to share how helping someone achieve their goal of getting out for the day has significantly improved an individuals health and well being.
Benefits of getting outside
Fresh air, sun, trees, nature is a magical thing, and according to some studies, these can have strong healing powers. For instance improving individuals mood, boosting your immune system and increasing anti-cancer proteins.
"Being outdoors in nature can be healing and beneficial for the body and mind," says Erica Price, a certified therapeutic recreational specialist at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital. She goes on to say "Whether at the beach, forest or in a neighbourhood park, nature offers a calming effect. And when we combine nature with physical activity, it can help fight depression and anxiety."
According to Price, being outdoors can improve your health & well being in the following ways:
Lowers your blood pressure and reduces stress — Spending time walking or simply looking at trees lowers blood pressure and reduces stress-related hormones cortisol and adrenaline.
Improves mood — Researchers have found that nature makes us happy. Anxiety, depression and anger are also noted to decrease after spending time outdoors.
Improves focus — Studies have shown that in both adults and children that have difficulties focusing or controlling their impulses are able to concentrate more after spending time around nature. The natural world allows our brains to have a break from all the things that mentally drain us. It has been said that it has even reduced symptoms for people who suffer from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Helps us heal quicker — Illness and surgery can be painful and frightening. These can both increase stress and slow our healing process. However, researchers discovered that individuals who spent time outdoors during their recovery period, required fewer painkillers, had less complications and had shorter hospital stays.
Supports graceful ageing — According to a study in the Journal of Aging and Health, adults over the age of 70 who spent time outdoors, reported fewer sleep difficulties, experienced fewer aches and pains, and found their mobility and ability to perform daily activities were increased.
At Moorbank Health & Well-Being Services this is one of the many things we do and promote. One example of this was taking a client out to the East Riddlesden Hall National Trust site. There we had a walk through the grounds, up to the Hall and enjoyed a warm drink whilst taking in the sites and nature surrounding us. This was followed by a visit to a country public house, where we enjoyed a spot of lunch and a drink. This proved to be a huge success, the gentleman that came with us could not imagine 12 months ago that he would be able to do this again following his unfortunate illness. He could not thank us enough and has definitely improved his confidence, mood and well-being.
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