Gareth Mate

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Why is being Outside so relaxing?

Getting Outside and spending your spare time in the Great Outdoors is the perfect remedy for anyone wanting to get away from it all. It provides the chance to escape reality, feel free and not focus on the difficulties and challenges we are all faced with. 

Spending more time in the outdoors has been scientifically proven, by the experts to help reduce stress levels, lift your mood and improve our general health and well-being. 

It can help you find balance and can help you to rejuvenate your sense of well-being in mind, body and soul. 

There are several different ways in which we can achieve an overall healthy balance in life. As someone who spends most of my time outdoors, I have identified a few key examples that might come in useful for others to consider.

All images are my own and taken on a Samsung Galaxy Smartphone.

Vitamin D - Helps The Body Function More Efficiently

My parents have always encouraged me to get outside and maximise my intake of Vitamin D—but what does vitamin D do for you?

By helping to maximise calcium absorption, vitamin D (from sunlight) promotes bone strength and dental health. It can also help to elevate our mood, reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and much more. 

Vitamin D can also significantly help to improve our bodies blood flow and enables lower blood pressure by literally relaxing your blood vessels.

Of course, there are benefits, but also implications for increased levels of Vitamin D. Be sure to read and follow the advice of experts and protect your skin with sun cream during moments of high UV levels. 

All images are my own and taken on a Samsung Galaxy Smartphone.

Being Outside in Nature Provide Opportunities for us to Unplug

As we already know and continually hear in the news, the overuse of electronic devices is leading to a dramatic increase in levels of stress, anxiety and problems with our Mental Health

Studies on this subject area now show that people who regularly have access to emails throughout the day are susceptible to higher levels of stress. They also might be increasing their chances of developing heart problems with increased fluctuations in heart rates than those who were cut off from electronic devices and constant communication. 

Taking time out and going off-the-grid can significantly help you fully unwind and allow you to focus more on your surroundings rather than work or social media.

All images are my own and taken on a Samsung Galaxy Smartphone.

The Natural Environment Helps You Regulate Your Mind

Building on the point raised above. Leaving your electronic devices behind and heading out into a natural environment can also have a calming effect for us all.

Our overall mental state is essential for well-being and our whole metaphysical state. 

The natural environment is proven to allow people to leave behind the stresses of everyday life and instead focus their minds on something simple, pure and straightforward. By concentrating and centring your consciousness, you can comfortably relax your body and improve overall health.

All images are my own and taken on a Samsung Galaxy Smartphone.

It Lowers Stress Hormone Levels

A Dutch study suggests that spending time in nature and performing repetitive tasks such as gardening can help to fight the onset of stress better than other leisure activities. 

In this study, one group of people was asked to read indoors after completing a stressful task while the other group was asked to garden for 30 minutes outdoors. After completing the task, the gardeners not only reported being in a better mood than the readers but also had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Thanks For Reading

This and any of my other blog posts. I endeavour to keep improving, so feel free to like, comment and share. Any feedback is greatly received and helpful in the pursuit of trying to continually improve my ideas.

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