Today's tip: Spend time outdoors
In Illinois, many of us spend far too much time inside. Long winters and these rainy Spring days make it easy to want to stay cozy indoors. However, even in less than optimal weather, spending time outdoors has many mental health benefits. Exposure to sunlight increases serotonin levels in the body, reducing depression and anxiety symptoms. Further, being outdoors and proximity to green space has been associated with lower stress levels, greater amounts of energy, increases in self-esteem, less anger, and improved sleep. Studies have shown that time spent outside and interacting with nature can improve focus, even among children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Interestingly, other cultures in the world spend much more time outdoors than many Americans. For the parents out there, Linda Åkeson McGurk, a Scandinavian woman who raised her children in Indiana, wrote a fascinating book that makes an excellent case for getting children outdoors more often. Check out There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge).
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