The weather will be beautiful for the next six days so now’s the time to get outdoors.
In October, every day brings a change to the landscape. Are the leaves changing color? Are there new migrating birds in your area? Have you seen monarch butterflies flying south? Yes!
Not only is it fun to observe nature but it’s good for you. Did you know that a nature walk relieves stress and boosts your mental health?
In 2010, UK researchers published an analysis of 10 studies on 1,250 people that showed that exercise in a green space greatly improves your mood and self esteem.
According to the BBC, “the research looked at many different outdoor activities including walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming in locations such as a park, garden or nature trail.
The biggest effect was seen within just five minutes. … An [even] bigger effect was seen with exercise in an area that also contained water — such as a lake or river.”
So take time to get outdoors. Be happy.
It works for me.
(photo of a park in Plawniowice, Poland by Jan Mehlich from Wikimedia Commons. It resembles Schenley Park, doesn’t it?)
Yesterday evening was a perfect evening to be out. It was like a fairyland out there and someone had flipped a switch. Kinglets, phoebes, brown creepers, yellow-rumped warblers, white-throated sparrows, palm warblers all got the memo. Fall has now truly arrived with a plethora of beautiful monarchs gracefully gliding through the air to top it all off.
Needless to say, I got a mood boost last night.
I agree – it’s so beautiful today I was inspired to run around my 1 mile block for the first time ever; sure hope the weather keeps up!
Hmm. . . I wonder if a soccer field counts. No lakes or rivers 🙁 (except after Lee, then the field WAS a lake). In contrast, I’ll bet that Public speaking class greatly harms your mood and self esteem. Nothing like standing in front of a bunch of people looking like a deer in the headlights and saying “Uhh”. I should skip public speaking and go birding for health reasons! Now if only my doctor would sign on that. . .
Blah. The weather out here has been horrible lately, cold and rainy for the last few days. It reminds me of Pittsburgh. It’s also been playing havoc with the Balloon Fiesta. Hopefully we can go tomorrow morning and see some balloons. Taos area is getting 10-15″ of snow tonight!
Here’s an interesting video that says even more –> that walking improves health outcomes for most diseases: http://youtu.be/aUaInS6HIGo