Today more than ever before, it’s become important to prioritize a happy home and a healthy life. Luckily, our backyards give us the opportunity to benefit our health and our home.
Ways Your Backyard Can Benefit Your Health
Just imagine it. A cool breeze dances across the back of your neck as you sip on your sweet tea. The buzz of honeybees whispers nearby. And the fragrance of freshly bloomed gardenias floats by. These are a few reasons why springtime in Alabama is one of our favorite times of the year.
If the calming serenity isn’t reason enough to get outside, there are many activities you can do in your own backyard that have great health benefits.
Find a Sunny Spot
Scope out your space and lay down on a blanket with a good book. Getting a boost of vitamin D is a great way to harness disease-fighting powers. All you need is about 10-15 minutes of sunshine a few times a week to feel the effects. But you might find it so relaxing that you stay out for longer. Just don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen!
Take Your Exercise Routine Outdoors
Maybe you’ve slacked on your gym routine. Resuming your workouts in your backyard can benefit your health in two ways – getting your body moving while soaking in some vitamin D. And if you work from home, taking your lunch break outside is a great way to take a mental break. Get a breath of fresh air. Literally. Dust off your yoga mat and do a sun salutation with the sun or some walking lunges across the yard. Even outdoor chores like mowing the lawn or gardening are a great way to get moving. You might find the change in scenery is just the boost you’ve been looking for.
Free Aromatherapy
Stopping to smell the flowers is more than just a saying. According to science, natural scents like roses, fresh-cut grass, and pine make you feel calmer and relaxed. Plus, if you decide to plant some of these beauties, you’ll bring pollinators like butterflies and bees into your space.
Find Your Focus
Whether you work from home or at the office, give your brain a break by going outside. Taking a walk around the block or around your neighborhood might just be the boost you need to finish the work day. You’ll improve your concentration and might even enhance your creativity. And if you work completely from home, you can even move your office outside on nice days. Set up a table in some shade and let the birds be your co-workers for the day.
Ditch That Cup of Coffee
Ok, maybe not every morning. But, some studies suggest that spending 20 minutes in the open air gives your brain an energy boost comparable to one cup of joe.
Get Together With Family and Friends
What’s better than sitting around a fire pit with some of the people who are nearest and dearest to you? You don’t have to answer that because we all know very few things beat that. Being around those you care about is one of the number one factors for living a happy life.
There are so many ways to make your backyard a place where you’ll want to spend all your extra time. Shrug off the winter blues and get outside. Doctors orders.
