The promise of warmer days

The promise of warmer days can be thrilling as spring arrives, especially after the past year when many of us have been stuck indoors and/or have been unable to get to the gym or our exercise class! Understandably, we have been worried about our own health and/or the health of those close to us. But hopefully now with the arrival of vaccines and warmer weather, we are more ready to venture out when there is so much to take in for our heads and hearts. Spending time outdoors in a natural environment with fresh air and sunlight is very important to our sense of well-being and that’s my message to you this week.

I’m not here to tell you how you should do that. That’s up to you and what makes you feel best. But I do want to remind you of the many benefits that being around Mother Nature can bring. Whether you opt to visit a nature trail, park, beach, lake or river or you just decide to sit in your own backyard, you can reap many health benefits. Our vitamin D levels improve with exposure to natural sunlight. Our blood pressure and stress levels go down, our moods are lifted, and our immune systems are strengthened just by being out in nature. Mother Nature even helps us to heal more quickly, both mentally and physically. It almost sounds too good to be true!

Now that this new season is upon us and we all want to be healthier, my suggestion is to get outside as much as you can. Of course, be smart. Masks and social distancing should still be practiced. Depending on where you live, you may hear birds singing again, or see crocuses and daffodils breaking through the ground and buds forming on the trees. Mother Nature’s gifts should surely lift your spirits and stimulate you both mentally and physically.