While we may have to be six feet away from our friends or wear masks when going to crowded places, there is one thing we take for granted every day: just being able to go outside. With summer just around the corner, this is a perfect time to pick up a new habit of going outside every day. This may seem like a scary time to go outside or to go on a walk, but there are safety precautions you can take. Staying six feet away from others and wearing a mask and gloves is one way to protect yourself when you are going to leave the house. Going outside just for twenty minutes a day can do so much for you. Fresh air and going outside can change your entire day and health. Being outside not only helps to improve your physical health but your mental health as well.

Going outside daily has been known to lower blood pressure and heart rate. It also has been known to help boost your immune system. Even if you are outside for just twenty minutes, it is even thought to limit the possibility of becoming nearsighted later in life. Some studies even suggest that going outside might boost your energy enough to where it is equivalent to drinking one cup of coffee. So before you go pour yourself that second cup of joe, maybe try going outside first. With many walking trails and parks near Barrington, there are many options for you and your family to spend some time outside and help improve your physical health.

The other helpful aspect of going outside daily is that it can help improve your mental health. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. In a stressful time like this, we all need a little stress relief. Going outside has been proven to help you relax, and is a quick and easy distraction from whatever your current stressor is. Also, going outside is believed to help fight depression and anxiety as well. While it is not a fix-all cure, it is just one step you can take to help improve your mental health. Also, if you are ever feeling stuck, unmotivated, or at a loss for ideas, going outside has also been known to help you focus and rejuvenate your creative process and problem-solving just after going outside for around twenty minutes.

While we are in a time of uncertainty, there is one thing I am certain about: going outside has so many benefits, not only for your mental health but your physical health as well. Just going for a walk around the block or biking one of the many trails in the Barrington area can help you to feel better. There are so many ways and so many benefits to going outside, even if it is only for a short amount of time every day. Do not spend your entire quarantine inside; instead, spend some quality time outside in the beautiful spring weather.