As the days are finally getting longer and, with the persistence of winter, I begin to notice the amount of time I and everyone around me has spent away from nature. I have also noticed the seasonal depression that comes along with shorter days and time spent indoors. Feeling more tired, melancholy or sluggish are all symptoms that correlate with the seasonal blues but they can also be symptoms of something else, something a lot more easy to fix. There is a fairly easy remedy to these symptoms that can significantly increase your happiness and help combat seasonal depression during the long winter.
Just go touch some grass, seriously, going outside and just interacting with nature is proven to have significant benefits to your mental and physical health. Studies have shown that. By getting outside and away from your phone your focus increases and stress decreases, you get better sleep, stronger immunity, and improved physical health. Especially in the winter when we spend the most time indoors, it’s important to get outside and take advantage of the numerous health benefits the outdoors provides. I know it’s hard to get out into nature, especially when it’s cold and wet outside but it’s hard to deny how beneficial going outside can be. Even by just spending two hours outside a week, you can gain many of the benefits. I talked to a few Roosevelt students about how they feel after going outside and they all agree, they feel better after. Jordan Killian, sophomore at Roosevelt said“I totally feel better after going outside, the air flows and I can breathe better, I’m more awake and attentive to my surroundings.” It’s not just numbers, you can physically feel the positive effects of going outside.
To be fair it’s a lot easier for me to say “go outside”, then it is to actually do it. Staying inside provides you warmth and comfort as well as constant entertainment from books and screens but there are also many fun and entertaining outdoor activities. Going on a walk is one, though it sounds boring it can be really entertaining, and it’s a great way to get exercise. We are very lucky in Portland to be surrounded by an abundance of parks and natural areas that you can hang out in. If you don’t want to walk you can go sit in a park or in your yard and still reap many of the health benefits. If you are willing to drive for a little while take advantage of the many hiking trails in the Columbia River Gorge and on Mt. Hood. The days are still short and the weather is still cold and rainy, so take advantage of the days when the sun’s out, get outside and experience first hand the effects of reconnecting with nature.
