MENTAL HEALTH: Reaping rewards from the the great outdoors

The benefits of the outdoors have long been lauded in terms of how it can positively affect both physical and mental well-being. With so much time being spent on screen these days, during both work and leisure time, people are typically spending a reduced amount of time outdoors in nature. This could be anything from playing a sport or going for a cycle outside all the way to just having some lunch or taking a phone call outside. The positives as a result of this are numerous and include better focus, improved mood and better sleep patterns to name but a few.
Outdoor activities can help relieve any troubling emotions such as fear or sadness and in doing so can help with the promotion of positive emotions like joy and peace. This can be particularly helpful for anyone that may struggle with feelings of anxiety or depression on occasion. This is partly because an exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the release of the hormone serotonin. Serotonin is associated with feelings of calmness and focus, and is sometimes actually dubbed the ‘happiness hormone’.
Spending time outdoors can assist with your sleep with sunlight helping your sleep cycle. Sunlight has more of an impact on your circadian rhythm than artificial or electric light by helping you feel more tired at night time. In addition to this, the actual quality of your sleep has been shown to be higher, possibly linked to the fact that your anxieties and worries have been minimised. So if you find yourself struggling to achieve good sleep, sunlight is one easy and free way of getting yourself back on track towards feeling more well rested.

Sense of calm
Being outside can actually lead to an interest in engaging in physical activity, that again is likely free of charge. There may be a chance that no gym equipment or transport is required if you are lucky enough to be able to take a step out of your front door and go for a walk, jog or similar. The fresh air is so beneficial in promoting a sense of calmness and just being present with surroundings and yourself in body and mind.
There are also social advantages to being outside, which is a big part of contentment. It may present an opportunity to connect with neighbours or other new people and places that make up your community. Having a sense of community is so important to maintaining positive mental health in terms of feeling connected to other people.
It’s always worth reminding yourself that there is more outside of your four walls or device, and to get out and enjoy the outdoors and nature in whatever way works best for you. Although it may be difficult to carve out this time for yourself, if you can at all introduce it into your daily routine you will reap the rewards. As with everything, start small. If ten minutes is all you have to give at this point, it is an improvement on what you had previously done with those ten minutes of time. So take a step and open your eyes to the wonderful world outside, take some deep breaths and you just might be pleasantly surprised at how well you begin to feel in a short amount of time.

•  Sadhbh Dunne is a qualified life coach based in Westport. She is the founder of Ember Coaching (www.embercoaching.ie) and can be reached at sadhbh@embercoaching.ie.