Do you remember when you were young?  Playing outside seemed like a privilege.  Recess, a saving grace, was given to you daily.  Being anywhere but inside was what you wanted, even if you didn’t know it at the time.

Fast forward to this very moment, nose buried in this post, phone in hand, headphones in listening to whatever Spotify station you had playing yesterday.  These days, it seems like people scuttle from one enclosure to the next, chasing the next air-conditioned room.

With that in mind, here are five reasons why you should spend a little bit of time outside every day.

1. Get some of those fresh O2 molecules

Do you think sitting inside is refreshing?  If you’re at work, you’re sitting there for 8 hours a day breathing the same air that all your coworkers are breathing.  The germs are circulating, spreading faster than a wildfire.  Sometimes, all you need is to step outside and get a breath of fresh air.  I’ve read that just taking time to relocate yourself to the outdoors for a few minutes can increase happiness. Who doesn’t want to be happy?

2. Give the trees what they want

Breathe on a tree.  Although that sounds so cheesy, trees need carbon dioxide (and plenty of it) to carry out photosynthesis.  With all the deforestation that’s going on in the world, why not help the trees we do have left thrive?  If you don’t want to be outside for your own well-being, do it for the trees.

3. Soak up the sun

UV?  Come to me!  I realize that science has shown that the sun can have very damaging effects on skin, but what is often overlooked is that science shows that sun can also have positive effects; everything is good in moderation.  Sunlight can actually boost the body’s production of Vitamin D, so health benefits come with the outdoors.

4. Take a load off in the great outdoors

Relax already!  Life is stressful enough as it is, so when I find myself getting overly stressed, I enjoy sitting under a tree with a good book in hand.  You can’t go wrong with some of George Orwell’s finest words and a nice breeze.  When I am in this zone, I mentally set my status to “Do Not Disturb.”  You deserve a little more “me time,” so let yourself have it!

5. Be mindful about where your mind goes

Going with relaxing, take time to think about how lucky you are to be where you are right this very moment.  Whatever is going on in your life isn’t the end of the world?  No matter how bad things seem, they can always get worse, but more importantly, they can always get better.  Being outside, amidst the towering trees and the sneaky shrubs, realize that you’re just a small part of a much bigger picture.  Everything isn’t so serious, but we can get ourselves carried away.  Nature helps me bring myself back to center; what does it do for you?

Sitting here, reflecting on how many hours I have spent indoors within the last week, I am going to try and listen to my own advice.  I’m going to take more time to stop and smell the roses (actually)!  I guess I can make some time in my busy schedule for nature.  Can you?  Drop a comment below, and let me know what you love to do outside!