Enjoying the Great Outdoors

I love nature.

It wasn’t always that way. For a long time I thought only about the inconveniences – temperature extremes, mosquitoes, creepy-crawlies, getting my clothes dirty, and so on. 

Now as an adult in my 40s, I have an entirely different perspective thanks to both my husband, who is an avid hiker, and my lifestyle medicine colleagues, many of whom educate the public about the health benefits of nature. Now when I’m in nature, I pay attention to the peaceful sounds of a babbling brook and the crunching of leaves under my feet. I feel invigorated as I take a deep breath of fresh air. I enjoy the soft morning sunlight and relish the amazing views from a mountaintop. 

As much as nature enhances personal enjoyment, it provides health benefits too. For example, sunlight helps to regulate circadian rhythms, which in turn promotes better sleep (https://www.bluezones.com/2022/11/the-link-between-sunlight-and-better-sleep/). We know that nature facilitates cognitive and mental health benefits.(https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature). 

Nature has even been shown to help people overcome drug and alcohol problems. (https://theconversation.com/amp/how-getting-out-into-nature-can-help-people-with-drug-and-alcohol-problems-204229). Furthermore, nature can be conducive to other health-promoting behaviors such as exercising or spending quality time with others. 

June is Great Outdoors Month, an observation that began in 1998 under President Bill Clinton as Great Outdoors Week. The purpose is to celebrate America’s national, state, and local public parks and waters. There are countless ways to show one’s support of this observance and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of nature at the same time. A few suggestions include hiking, water sports, nature photography, picnicking, camping, arranging outdoor storytime or a scavenger hunt with children, or even taking a weekend trip to the beach or mountains with family or friends. 

A quick online search can indicate the local, state, and national parks closest to you. A few helpful resources include:

All Trails www.alltrails.com 

National Park Service www.nps.gov  

National Park Foundation www.nationalparks.org 

Recreation trip planner www.recreation.gov 

Enjoy exploring the nature around you, and I’ll see you in the great outdoors!