THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HEALTHY EFFECTS OF BEING OUTDOORS

After being cooped up indoors for a majority of the winter, it’s gonna feel good to get outside this summer. And it’s like we as individuals need reasons but sometimes it’s hard to break away from work. Here are some great reasons to get away from the office so you can be a better worker this summer!

Science shows that spending time in the great outdoors can actually make you healthier. Escaping to the woods, mountains or even your neighborhood park helps both your body and your brain. In an article published at Huffingtonpost.com, they list 7 ways getting outside is good for your health.

Read more: http://huff.to/1nX6o6S

Getting outside can also help with depressions. According to an article in Oprah.com, Norwegian researchers discovered that subjects with moderate-severe depression who participated in a horticultural program experienced reduced symptoms after 12 weeks. "Humans are innately engaged in nature," says study author Marianne Thorsen Gonzalez, PhD, making gardening an ideal distraction from the rumination that fuels depression.

They sound like science fiction, but negative ions—particles that are plentiful near waterfalls, breaking waves, and river rapids—can act as natural antidepressants, according to Columbia University researchers. And an Indoor Air study found that after breathing negative ions for an hour, subjects' blood lactate levels dropped 33 percent, improving their energy levels.

Read more: http://bit.ly/1S8snGD

There’s also supporting evidence at harvard.edu, that sunlight hitting the skin begins a process that leads to the creation and activation of vitamin D. Studies suggest that this vitamin helps fight certain conditions, from osteoporosis and cancer to depression and heart attacks. Limited sun exposure (don’t overdo it), supplemented with vitamin D pills if necessary, is a good regimen.

Read More: http://bit.ly/1eev046

And for city dwellers, the nytimes.com reports that going to the park might be able to lower anxiety. Various studies have found that urban dwellers with little access to green spaces have a higher incidence of psychological problems than people living near parks and that city dwellers who visit natural environments have lower levels of stress hormones immediately afterward than people who have not recently been outside.

Read more: http://nyti.ms/1lkUX6m

So tell your boss you’re leaving the office early and get outside.