During winter, people become more sedentary and avoid going outside. However, staying active during the winter months is necessary for your physical and mental health. Below is a list of fours reasons why you should spend time outdoors even when it’s cold out.
- A recent study found people who walked for 90 minutes in a natural setting – as opposed to those who walked for 90 minutes in a city with lots of traffic – experienced decreased activity in a specific brain region associated with depression and negative thinking.
- Another study found spending time outside increases a person’s attention span and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50 percent.
- Unplugging from all electronic devices and workday responsibilities rests the brain, eyes and nervous system.
- Connecting with native flora and fauna in the Flagstaff and Verde Valley areas gives you a chance to see areas where there is no human influence – rare in the modern world. The sight of towering red rocks, snowy peaks and powerful rivers helps us remember how small and insignificant many of our worries really are.