Arizona is beautiful. Endless trails and stunning scenery make it the ideal place to get out and explore. The good news is that spending time in nature can improve your mental health and happinessespecially when combined with exercise.
Here are some facts:
- Studies show that being outdoors lowers levels of cortisol, a hormonal marker of stress. Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression can be alleviated by spending a little time outdoors.
- The sun provides valuable vitamin D, which is essential for bone growth and immune system regulation. This can be a powerful tool for fighting depression.
- For people who stare at computers and generally spend too much time looking at screens, spending time outdoors may reduce blurred vision, double vision, red eyes, and headaches.
- Studies have shown that being outdoors improves focus, creativity, and mental clarity. Got a tough problem to solve? Give yourself some space and see if things become clearer when you walk out the door.
- A deep breath of fresh air increases energy and lowers blood pressure and heart rate. It’s a lot like meditation, but it smells like an outdoor desert.
However, while being outdoors can help your mental health, you should take precautions, especially with Arizona’s hot summer temperatures.
Want to be smart about sun safety? Do the following:
- Even on cloudy days, the Arizona sun can damage your skin. Wear sunscreen daily (the higher the SPF, the better) and apply it for at least 20 minutes before going out. And don’t forget your lip balm. Lips get sunburned too. Important note: The sun rises highest at noon, but that’s usually not the hottest part of the day. Especially in Arizona. High temperatures usually occur around 3-4:30 PM.
- Even if you apply sunscreen to your face, it’s still a good idea to wear a hat. A wide-brimmed hat provides excellent protection for the scalp, ears, face and back of the neck.
- Please wear sunglasses. Sunglasses can reduce sun exposure, which can damage your eyes and lead to cataracts. Check the label and choose sunglasses that block at least 90% of UVA and UVB rays.
- Wear long sleeves and long pants to protect your skin when playing or working outdoors.darker colour Tightly woven fabric provides maximum protection.
- If you go out, check your daily UV Index. Ultraviolet, or the UV index (on a scale of 1 to 11), measures the intensity of the sun. The stronger the UV rays, the more you need to be careful.
- Stay hydrated. Arizona’s dry temperatures and low humidity can be misleading, as you may not sweat as much as you think. Make sure you drink plenty of water.
With over 300 sunny days a year, caring and being smart about your sun safety and protection is essential for people of all ages. It is especially important for children, as much of the time a person is exposed to the sun occurs before he turns 18.
Grab a bottle of water, put on a hat and sunscreen and head outside. you’re glad you did
Melissa Baker is Director of Integrative Medicine at Jewish Family & Children’s Service Glendale Healthcare. centerMore information about . JFCS available at jfcsaz.org.
