With Daylight Savings Time in full swing, it can be hard to find the time to get outside in the sun before it starts getting dark. However, making time to go outside each day is essential for both you and your teen, especially in the winter months.
There are numerous physical and mental health benefits you can gain from spending even just a little bit of time outside each day.
Here are a few key reasons why you should make sure both you and your teen get fresh air each and every day:
Serotonin
When you spend time in the sunlight, it causes your brain to release more serotonin, a hormone that helps improve sleep and provides feelings of happiness.
There’s a reason why serotonin is often referred to as the “happiness hormone.” When you have appropriate levels of serotonin, it helps stabilize your mood and causes positive feelings. When your serotonin levels are low, it can contribute to feelings of depression, sleep difficulty, and increased anxiety.
Make a point to go outside each day so that you and your teen can boost your serotonin levels and improve your moods.
Vitamin D
Oftentimes people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) experience the strongest symptoms in the fall and winter months. According to medical professionals, one way to combat SAD and other mood disorders is to make sure the body has enough vitamin D.
Vitamin D is not only beneficial for helping alleviate symptoms of depression, but it is also key for supporting a healthy immune system.
While there are vitamin D supplements that you can take and foods rich in vitamin D that you can eat to make sure that you have the necessary levels of this nutrient, one of the best ways to make sure you have enough vitamin D is to spend time outside.
Sunlight causes your body to produce vitamin D. In fact, exposure to sunlight is the most efficient and the safest way to improve your vitamin D levels.
If you or your teen feel especially bogged down during the holiday season, you may consider how much time you’ve been spending outside increasing your exposure to sunlight and vitamin D.
Exercise
While you can certainly spend time outside without exercising, chances are that going outside for long periods of time will lead you to partake in some form of physical activity.
Whether you go on a walk with your teen around the neighborhood, toss a football around, or play a game of basketball, being outside can encourage you and your teen to spend more time exercising, which will work wonders for your mental and physical health.
Not only is exercise good for your body, but it is also good for your mind. Exercise releases mood-boosting endorphins and can reduce levels of stress and anxiety.
When you spend all of your free time indoors, chances are you aren’t moving around as much as you would be if you were outside.
Try planning a daily walk with your teen or a daily bike ride so that you both can get some fresh air, sunlight, and exercise.
Mental energy
Do you ever have times when it seems like your mind is just out of it and struggling to focus or pay attention?
Getting fresh air can be the reinvigorating and refreshing environmental shift you need to reset and allow your mind to relax and refocus.
Research shows that even just looking at photos of nature can reduce mental fog. If your teen has been spending countless hours preparing for a big test and is having trouble concentrating, have them take a break and go outside for some fresh air. If you are feeling bogged down mentally, step outside even for just a moment or two to give your mind a quick break.
Stress relief
Spending time outside has been proven to be a natural stress reliever. Studies show that even 20 minutes a day spent outdoors can help reduce stress.
Life is stressful! When you’re juggling working at your job, parenting, paying bills, and other responsibilities, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Likewise, your teen probably has the tendency to feel stressed as they balance school, extracurricular activities, after-school jobs, homework, and chores.
Both you and your teen can reduce your stress levels each day by spending time outside.
Although it can be a challenge to find time in your busy schedules to go outdoors before it gets dark, doing so will be well worth it for both you and your teen.