Whether consciously or unconsciously, most people these days spend the majority of their day indoors. Indeed, a busy lifestyle often involves work, household chores and other activities spent inside a building or house. And when you do find yourself with some extra time to spare, there is nothing more appealing than lazing around at home, while catching up on your favourite television shows or flicking through multiple social media platforms.
The growth of our indoors lifestyles
Perhaps one of the reasons why staying indoors is more appealing is that there are so many conveniences available today. Thanks to technology, you can have everything you need at the touch of a button. The internet gives you access to all sorts of entertainment. From streaming platforms to the best bingo sites, even social media are all conveniently available using a mobile device. Fancy a take-away? There are delivery services you can contact using a phone application.
Indeed, while technology is instrumental in making our lives more comfortable, it has also significantly contributed to a sedentary lifestyle. Unfortunately, there are also harmful effects of spending too much time indoors. And if you want to know whether or not it is time for you to get up and be one with nature, pay attention to the following signs.
1 Rising anxiety levels
Are you feeling anxious or low? It could be that your indoors life is causing this. According to scientific research, spending time outdoors can enhance your mood. All you need is 15 minutes spent outside, and you will start to feel the difference. If you can get outdoors in daylight for longer then all the better.
The most accessible activity is to go for a walk. If you can walk amid a green environment, and especially among trees, this will boost you mood and reduce stress levels all the more. You could take it a step further and enjoy a little forest bathing. This is when you spend time absorbing the nature – and the trees – around you.
Forest bathers believe that this is the best way to calm the mind and practice mindfulness to its highest level. Why not give it a try?
2 Calcium deficiency
You might not be aware of your weaken bones until you have a fall and then sufffer a break. There are other reasons for weakened bones but a lack of sunlight, and hence a lack of vitamin D, can be a contributory factor.
The sun is the best source of vitamin D and when your skin is exposed to sunlight, it makes vitamin D from cholesterol. This vitamin is important for good health and to maintain strong bones. It does so by helping the body to absorb calcium (one of bone’s main building blocks) from food and supplements.
3 Feeling isolated
The more time we spend indoors the higher our chances of social isolation. It is a very real issue in the modern world, especially as greater number of people live on their own and also work from home.
Taking part in outdoor activities is likely to bring you into contact with other people. It could be a walk in your local park where you only see other people or have a quick chat with someone or, better still, you could meet with friends or likeminded people for an activity, including a hike, cycling, outdoors bootcamp etc.
Check local events listings to see where groups of people meet for walking or cycling etc.
4 Feeling tired and achey
If you are not active and spend most of your time sitting in front of a desk, you will start feeling pain in various areas of your body. It is also common to feel tired all the time and suffer from low energy, even in the middle of the day.
The best cure is to get up from your desk and go outside for a quick walk. Stretch your legs, feel the fresh air and look around you. Even a 10-minute stroll will help to ease the lethargy and relax the aches.
Spending time outdoors is important for both mental and physical good health but sadly, as a nation, we are not getting enough of it.
