The Good In Spending Time Outdoors

It has been found that Canadians have previously been too busy to go outside and play. They’re either too busy or too lazy, with many of us spending a lot of time on the couch or sitting down. There are millions who aren’t getting enough active time or outdoor play and it could impact other areas.

Spending a little bit of time outdoors here and there can have a greater impact than we might realize, it could bring more value than what we just readily see while walking.

During the pandemic, millions of people have taken to walking outdoors to try and combat some of the stress that they’ve been feeling. Or as a remedy to the anxiety that they’ve been feeling, that’s what some surveys have found when they asked Canadians what their motivations were for going outdoors.

Under a newer evidence-based nature prescription program in Canada, it’s also been suggested that people might start getting actual nature prescriptions from their doctor. A script telling them to go outside and play, go spend time outdoors and enjoy nature.

That program is known as the PARX program and might seem funny to some but there is a lot of evidence to support the connection between time spent in nature and overall well-being.

Studies have shown that spending a little time in nature might potentially help to bring out the best in people. Researchers say that there is a strong connection between the time that we might spend with nature and out own happiness and that might be motivation enough for some to get outside.

When the pandemic hit many people were prevented from going to their usual activity classes or doing things that they might normally do. For millions the most that you could do was just go for a hike or a walk if you wanted to get outside. If you wanted to see something different than the inside of the grocery store.

B.C. is great for that because there are so many areas to go hiking and go for a walk, many lakes and rivers, beautiful scenery to observe while outside enjoying time outdoors. But still, many Canadians just don’t do it they aren’t spending that much time outdoors.

Previous investigations have found that Canadians might spend less than 5 minutes per day outside and much more time staring at a screen during the day. Overall during the week it has been found that Canadians might spend less than 2 hours outside.

But things might be changing and perhaps we can thank the pandemic for that a little bit. People have altered their physical habits and are spending a bit more time outdoors.

Recent polls have found that more than 90 percent of people are crediting spending time outdoors with helping them to get through the pandemic altogether.

We have seen this not just in Canada, but around the world people have turned back to their connection with nature to help bring them some peace and calm during the COVID-19 storm that came through last year. Still today as there is a lot of uncertainty around the world with the economy and COVID-19 still etc, habits are changing with more people spending time outdoors and making that connection for themselves.

That might mean doing more activities close to home, getting to know little hidden hiking areas and hills around your own community, it’s help bringing people together and bringing people outdoors. It offers an option for those who have been trying to find something positive that can bring them some joy during a difficult time and for many it’s doing a lot more than that.

Spending Time Outside Is Good For You Study Says

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Researchers in Canada and other parts of the world are busy studying the impact that COVID-19 has had on our mental health and other areas of society. They have also been looking to investigate and see whether or not the pandemic has made people look to become more active outside.

With many physical recreation facilities closed it meant that people had to go looking elsewhere, how much of that void was filled with time spent outdoors?

That is what some researchers in Canada have been investigating. Researchers suspect that the pandemic might have prompted some to take up new habits of being more active. Millions of people are used to living a sedentary lifestyle which could be very detrimental, and there are numerous studies that showcase the benefits of spending time outdoors and being active.

Not only has it been suggested to be the superior alternative for health, but it’s also the solution that makes more economic sense for many as well. This is because going for a walk or getting active at the park in some other way is much cheaper than a gym membership. While people had to resort to finding other things to do to stay active this might have also meant looking to save money during the pandemic and finding natural things that families can do outdoors that don’t cost any money. With many lakes, beaches, and parks around the BC area, there is no shortage of options.

Less Stress and Longer Attention Spans Connected with Outdoor Time

One previous study found that students are more likely to be less stressed if they spend more time outdoors. Not only that, but that they are also likely to have longer attention spans as well. Studies over the years have continued to reinforce the notion of a stress reduction relationship that comes with getting active outside and spending time outdoors.

According to previous research on the subject of the close connection to nature and spending time outdoors, it’s been discovered that exposure to greenspace might help to reduce the risk associated with various illnesses too.

Another recent study on the topic, looking to quantify the health benefits that might be associated with natural sounds, researchers from Carleton University in Ottawa found that there were positive affect outcomes with groups that had been exposed to natural sounds, and that natural sounds have led to a decrease in annoyance and stress by as much as 28 percent.

What sound had the highest impact? Water

Water was the most relaxing sound that they found and it came with the highest impact from their investigation. They analyzed dozens of studies to examine health outcomes that might be associated with spending time outdoors and with nature sounds etc. Other natural sounds that were included were bird sounds, wind, and other sounds.

Where were the parks with the highest quality soundscapes? They were determined to be in Hawaii, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest. They asserted that their analysis revealed that if you are listening to some natural sounds, rather than just noise, that there will be better health outcomes. For now, they aren’t sure exactly what might be driving this effect, why it has such an impact on the individual.

Anyone who sleeps with a sound machine might already be too familiar with how soothing those outdoor nature sounds can be. As well, these investigations add to the mountain of evidence which already supports the benefits associated with spending more time outdoors and around greenery.

Spending time in nature has been associated with a wide range of potential health and mental health benefits.

From spending time outdoors, to hearing natural sounds, to just having more plants around, it has all been found to help improve the quality of life in some way or another. Living near green spaces has been shown to potentially promote longevity.

Less Than 5 Minutes Per Day

Spending time outside might be better for you than you think and today not many of us spend that much time outdoors. Most Canadians live a sedentary lifestyle where they’re either on the chair, couch, bed, not much time spent being active. Canadians have previously been found to be some of the least active people in the world.

In general, we’ve been too busy or too lazy to get outside and enjoy the greenery around us. For those of us that are lucky to have some nearby.

One previous study found that about 30 percent of Canadians are spending less than 5 minutes outdoors on a daily basis. As far as how much time you should spend outside to see positive effects, researchers have a suggestion. They have suggested that as little as 10 minutes outside on a daily basis might have an impact.

That might be helping to reduce stress, boost happiness, or bring some other benefit. It has been seen in students and others that when time is spent outdoors it doesn’t take long for the benefits to kick in. Spending that time outdoors literally helps people to feel more connected and alive, which has been associated with energizing effects.

Other researchers have suggested it might take as much as 2 hours spending time in nature to really see some benefits come through. Then you’ve got some that have suggested maybe 20 minutes is the key. The amount that works for one individual might not work for the other. But whether someone is spending 5 minutes or 2 hours or more, some time is better spent outdoors than no time at all.