The benefits of spending time in nature and reducing your screen time are things we should all be paying more attention to.
Last weekend, the UK had some warm temperatures and we were able to enjoy the sunshine. I'm not usually a fan of Spring or Summer because my hay fever gets worse, there are wasps and other buzzing insects and when it gets too hot, it can impact how I feel.
However, none of that happened on Saturday. Instead, I was able to sit outside – catch a bit of the sun – and enjoy the time spent with my family. We had drinks flowing, a buffet to enjoy and it was a rather pleasant day.
And because we were sitting outside and chatting and catching up because we hadn't seen each other since last August, I didn't have my phone with me. Not having my phone with me was something I'm only now getting used to again because before my job required me to post on social media nearly every day every couple of hours.
But this weekend has been a refreshing reminder of how good it can feel to leave your phone somewhere, have time away from screens and enjoy the fresh air. In fact, my sister and I were talking this morning about how after Saturday night, we woke up feeling more refreshed, rejuvenated and ready for the day.
It is so easy to spend hours on end on our phones or have things delivered to our houses so that we don't have to go outside, but it's becoming clearer and clearer to me that these aren't all that good for our health. I want to share some benefits of both having time outdoors in nature and reducing screen time.
Benefits of reduced screen time
A better night's sleep
I'm sure you must have seen articles or social media posts that encourage you to put your phone away before you go to sleep. And whilst that may seem inconvenient or annoying, you should listen.
Reducing your screen time throughout the day but also at night can provide you with a better night's sleep. Using your phone, whether it be to check messages or scroll through TikTok, will make it difficult for you to fall asleep and have an uninterrupted sleep.
It can disturb your circadian rhythm, disrupting it from its usual pattern; it can disrupt your body's melatonin production, which ultimately helps regulate sleep; and it can impact how you feel the next day, leaving you groggy, more tired and perhaps even stressed.
So, if you want a better night's sleep where you don't have to count sheep after sheep, reduce your screen time.
Bye bye anxiety
Anxiety has become more common in recent generations and the stigma surrounding it is slowly fading away. However, one thing that contributes to anxiety is an increased amount of screen time.
Screen time-induced anxiety can be caused by comparisons on social media, negative - but necessary - news, or simply just an information overload. Constantly using your phone can also contribute to higher levels of cortisol, which is essentially the stress hormone.
By reducing your screen time, you're giving your mind time to rest and just enjoy life in the present without having all these different aspects invading your thoughts.
So, if you want to feel less anxious and stressed, try reducing your screen time.
Enjoying life more
The list goes on and on, but that's not necessarily a good thing.
Constantly using your phone can hinder your enjoyment of life. For one, it can allow you to procrastinate and waste hours mindlessly scrolling through social media or playing a game. This can harm your daily life in all aspects, from free time to work.
Reducing your screen time would allow you to be present more and enjoy the moment that you're in. It would give you opportunities to do other things that perhaps you want to but always say you never have the time, like taking up a new hobby or going somewhere for the day. It also allows you to be more productive at work because you would use your technology more strategically and probably less often.
So, if you want to be more productive at work and feel more accomplished so that when you have free time you can do the things you actually want to do, perhaps put your phone away every once in a while.
Benefits of being outside in nature
Improved health
Whilst being outside in nature might not appeal to some, for example, hay fever sufferers, it does have a certain appeal when you consider the other health benefits.
In the UK, we don't get enough sunlight compared to other countries, so when the sun's out and it's warm, we should take advantage of it. Being outside allows you to get the necessary Vitamin D for your body.
Vitamin D is a vitamin a lot of people are deficient in, but it is important for different aspects of your body, including your bones and immune system. It also aids your body in absorbing other minerals it requires to function. Plus, being outside makes it less likely for you to contract viruses and other illnesses, like Covid-19, because of the better air circulation.
So, if you feel you need that extra boost of Vitamin D, step outside into the world of nature.
Peace, tranquillity and creativity
Unless you're someone who runs every time a wasp flies near you, being outside in nature can help you feel more at peace, calmer and creative. Nature allows our bodies and minds to relax. In fact, when I was outside at the weekend, I could quite easily have closed my eyes and just rested for hours on our patio in the sun.
The outdoors gives our minds a rest. When we're in nature, we can just enjoy the natural wonders of the world and have a sense of calm and peace because it's a natural setting.
But whilst you're feeling peaceful, nature can also boost your creativity. As a writer, I'm always told to go out and explore different settings to gain inspiration, and being in nature will indeed boost creativity. It means you can escape everyday life and enjoy what is out there at your own pace in the fresh air.
So if you're feeling like you need a creativity boost or you simply want to feel less stressed and more at peace, then go sit outside in nature.
Happier and healthier
We all know that being outside and exercising can be a good thing, especially if it beats being in a stuffy, sweaty gym. However, spending time outdoors can not only make you healthier, but happier.
Similar to the above, nature can have an impact on your mindset and emotions. Breathing in the fresh air of the outdoors increases oxygen levels in your brain. In turn, this increases the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
Serotonin, or the happy hormone, will then alter your mood. This neurotransmitter's levels can be increased by exposure to sunlight, working out in nature, or even by your diet.
So if you want to feel happier and healthier, you could either go and sit outside, go for a walk outside or even have a picnic.
Being in nature and reducing your screen time are two things we probably brush over and ignore a lot of the time. But the six benefits I've shared above are only just scratching the surface. There are so many more advantages of doing both that we should all strive to achieve.
I hope if you're feeling stressed, anxious, tired or generally feeling low, try putting your phone away and getting outside.
Until next time...