By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern
The holidays are here, which means that there are gifts to buy and wrap, decorations to put up, meals to prepare, parties to plan, and guests to host. No wonder many of us feel incredibly stressed during this season! If you’re looking for a way to combat these feelings of stress, try spending more of your time outside instead of cooped up in the house!
Exercise! I know you might not want to, but getting up in the morning and exercising is a great way to start your day! Endorphins are released when you exercise, which makes you feel good! Who doesn’t want to feel good in the morning?
According to an article by Eating Well, those who spend more time outdoors are more likely to feel less stressed and have better mental well-being compared to those who spend most of their time inside. Studies have shown that spending just 10-50 minutes in nature can boost your mood, focus, blood pressure, and heart rate. Similarly, researchers have found that being in nature causes an uptick in heart rate variability, allowing you to adapt to and better handle stress.
So, next time you’re feeling stressed, consider taking some time to go outdoors, get some fresh air, and spend some quality time in nature. To make your time outside even more worth it, consider exercising outdoors by taking a walk or run! Or plan an outing with the entire family! Arizona offers many great outdoor activities, and it works out perfectly that the weather in Arizona is so pleasant during this time of year!
For some ideas on activities, check out these past articles from Fill Your Plate!