Go Outside! - by Reina Stamm

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you didn't go outside often? Or if being inside all day affects your mental health? As a person who doesn't go outside often, I can say these questions have been rambling around in my mind. I never thought much about going outside until I read about a boy who gave up everything to live in the woods for two years. Yeah, I know! Crazy!

At first, I thought, "I would never go live in the woods and give up everything I have." I have come to reconsider my thoughts. No, I still wouldn't give up all my belongings and shelter to live in the woods, but why would someone want to do such a thing? I began to research. "Is not going outside bad for you?" and "What would happen if humans never went outside?" Well, it cannot be suitable for us to stay inside all the time!

Studies show that some effects of not going outside include anxiety and depression. "Anxiety and depression, both of those things go up when you're stuck inside. Even if you're choosing to be stuck inside" (Dabney as qtd. By Taylor). Us humans need shelter, but we also need exposure to sunlight. We are supposed to go outside.

According to the director of the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Kenneth Wright, "exposure to sun-strength rays helps calibrate your body's circadian "clock" (as ctd. By Heid). "Your circadian rhythm regulates everything from appetite and sleep schedules to mood and energy levels" (Wright as qtd. By Heid). That is a lot of things! Electric lighting, such as phones, computers, TVs, and lights in our houses, is not the best for humans. "An absence of natural light can throw off your sleep schedule leading to increased risk of obesity, diabetes, depression, and other diseases" (Wright as qtd. By Heid). Richard Ryan, a professor of psychology, says, "Green nature" in particular—forests and parks, as opposed to beaches or deserts—seems to provide the most benefit" (as qtd. by Heid). Nature is known to improve your mood and mental health. Getting outside also helps us stay more active. "We tend to be less active indoors. When we're outside, we're more likely to walk and use our muscles, even if it's just walking to the grocery store" (Shah as qtd. by Taylor). Spending time in nature seems to relax people. It clears your mind's workload. Sadly, our generation is so attached to our phones, computers, and TVs. It prevents people from getting outside as much as they did when they were kids.

Summer is one of my favorite seasons! In the summer, people typically go outside more than they do any other time of the year. Most families will go on vacation somewhere, but if not, they stay home and spend more time at the pool or a lake. I have noticed that in the summer, I am much calmer and more relaxed. I wonder, is it because I am getting so much sun exposure? I'm starting to think it is! I get a lot more vitamin D in the summer than in winter. I have less anxiety, my stress levels are low, and mentally I am happier. I can also sleep better. Some people say, "the sun drains me." I can relate to that! After a long day in the sun, I know I will sleep like a baby!

While enjoying the benefits of outside time in the summer, be sure to protect yourself with sunscreen and hydration. The cool thing is that even if we wear clothes and sunscreen, we still get plenty of sunshine and vitamin D.

One of the best times of the year is autumn. The air is fresh and crisp. It is the perfect temperature for a lovely evening walk or bike ride. I love autumn because it is still pretty warm, but there is a cool breeze. Unfortunately, last fall, I did not get outside very often. I am going to try and change that this year. Although I live in the burning heat of Arizona, anytime it is colder out, it's refreshing!

Since it is so hot in Arizona, sometimes I don't even want to leave my house! "You miss a lot when you surround yourself with walls, and sunlight tops the list" (Wright as ctd. by Heid).

I plan to do something outside when I get a day off from work. Doing something outside helps me refresh my mind and get some sun. Recently I have tried to go on a walk or a hike at least once a week. Everyone can struggle with getting outside, especially with a demanding school and work schedule. Even one day a week of ensuring I get outside significantly impacts me. I get very stressed out and have anxiety about minor things. By making an effort to go out more, I have been more relaxed and not as tense. Going out and doing something outside will become a part of my weekly schedule.

An issue that I have identified today is that people do not go outside as much as they used to. Remember when you were young and played all the time outdoors? Kids love going outside. When I was little, I would wake up and want to go to the park. In the summer, I wanted to swim all day. In the Fall, I wanted to go to the park outside and run around with my friends. In the winter, I wanted to sit by the fire with a blanket and drink hot cocoa. In the spring, I wanted to sit on a bench and color pages in my coloring book. Yes, people still do these things, but I know I don't do them as much as I used to. In elementary school, everyone has a recess. As we get older and start high school, typically, you only get outside if you play a sport that practices outside. People don't realize the impact that this has on many people in our world. Most kids don't have bad mental health or depression.

Mental health is one of the most popular topics in today's society. Why? Because it affects so many people. Every individual has struggles. Some are worse than others. If getting outside has so many benefits, why wouldn't we try and make a better effort to spend more time outdoors? Being in the sun could help those who struggle with anxiety, high stress, depression, insomnia, etc. The only solution to fix this is getting outside. Even just 20-45 minutes a day will be so beneficial.

Works Cited

Heid, Markham. “You Asked: Is It Bad to Be inside All Day?” Time. 27 Apr. 2016. Accessed 20 Sep. 2022. https://time.com/4306455/stress-relief-nature/. 

Taylor, Marygrace. “What Really Happens to Your Body When You Stop Going Outside | Livestrong. ” LIVESTRONG.COM, Leaf Group, https://www.livestrong.com/article/1...taying-inside/.