By Mercedes Korngut and Anastasia Korngut | Co-Founders, Smallbitsofhappiness.com
In our fast-paced, constantly busy world, it can be really easy to just stay indoors for all (or most) of the day. We’ve got plenty of entertainment: TV, social media, mobile games, video games, and countless others. These can occupy and fill those moments of boredom. However, going outside for a walk can be beneficial in countless ways. But you’ve heard this before. We’re told all the time that going outside is good for you. We decided to take a deep dive into how exactly going for an outdoor walk benefits us, and what we discovered has transformed our perspective on getting outdoors.
Below we’ve broken down the benefits of going for a walk into a few different categories:
Exercise
When we go for a walk outside, we exercise. Exercising triggers the release of endorphins (happiness hormones) in our brain, suppresses cortisol (a stress hormone), as well as helps shift the mind away from worries by channeling strong emotions into a physical motion.
Sun
Sunlight not only energizes us as it helps reset our circadian rhythm (our body’s inner clock), helping our body figure out when the right time to go to sleep is, but it also comes with countless other benefits. Sunlight makes us feel happier as it triggers our brain to release more serotonin (a happiness hormone). It enhances our vitamin D levels, leading to stronger bones, better immune function, and overall health. Walking outside for just 15 minutes a day can significantly increase your vitamin D levels.
Increases Vitamin N (Nature)
As odd as it may sound, researchers have coined the term “Vitamin N” to refer to the health benefits of nature. Just like vitamins from food, nature is very beneficial to our health. Spending time outdoors, even for short periods, can boost our immune system (from sun), increase creativity by allowing us to recharge our directed-attention, boosts eyesight, and more, which you can explore in this BIT.
Connect With Others
Want to spend more time with a family member or friend? Invite them to join you for a walk, or walk to their house/a meet-up spot. Want some alone time after a chaotic day? Ask your parents, and with their permission, go for a walk (but stay relatively close to home), independently. However, when we go for a walk with another person, we not only get to reap all the mental and physical benefits of going for a walk, but we also get to catch-up and spend time with someone we care about. This boosts our mood, because when we connect with someone, our brain releases oxytocin, another happiness hormone.
With the compelling scientific evidence supporting the benefits of going outside, especially for a walk, it’s clear that incorporating outdoor time into our daily routines is vital for our overall well-being. So, whether it’s a stroll in the park, a hike in the woods, or a leisurely walk along the beach, spending time outside allows us to connect with nature and reap the rewards it offers.
ABOUT THE TEENAGE AUTHORS
Mercedes Korngut, Co-Founder & CEO
Mercedes is a teen who is passionate about helping other teens find small happiness in daily life. She is the producer and co-host of podcast, Hack Your Happiness, and the editor of all Small Bits of Happiness media videos. In addition, Mercedes is a contributor to various magazines across North America, writing on the subject of happiness and parent-teen connection.
Anastasia Korngut, Co-Founder & COO
Anastasia is a passionate and talented fashion designer, and is the head of the Small Bits of Happiness designs department. Her work focuses on intentional innovation – creating products that elevate one’s daily mood. In addition, Anastasia heads social media, and co-hosts the podcast, Hack Your Happiness.
Learn more about finding bits of happiness at https://smallbitsofhappiness.com.
