Four reasons spending time outdoors is good for your psyche

During winter, people become more sedentary and avoid going outside. However, staying active during the winter months is necessary for your physical and mental health. Below is a list of fours reasons why you should spend time outdoors even when it’s cold out.

  1. A recent study found people who walked for 90 minutes in a natural setting – as opposed to those who walked for 90 minutes in a city with lots of traffic – experienced decreased activity in a specific brain region associated with depression and negative thinking.
  2. Another study found spending time outside increases a person’s attention span and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50 percent.
  3. Unplugging from all electronic devices and workday responsibilities rests the brain, eyes and nervous system.
  4. Connecting with native flora and fauna in the Flagstaff and Verde Valley areas gives you a chance to see areas where there is no human influence – rare in the modern world. The sight of towering red rocks, snowy peaks and powerful rivers helps us remember how small and insignificant many of our worries really are.