3 MIN READ | GEORGIA SMITH
get out. now. why spending time in nature is everything for wellness.
(Well, almost everything. Hence Zolt.)
Fall is the ultimate season to head outdoors. It’s not too hot, not too cold, and the turning leaves are a fleeting, awesome marvel.
The outdoors offers a feast for your senses that commands your attention and snaps you into the moment — jaw-dropping foliage, the warmth of the sunshine on your face and the breeze on your skin, the sounds of rustling leaves and birdsong, and dappled light dancing across the path ahead of you.
NATURE IS NURTURING
Getting out in nature — truly out there — often involves a little travel time, but is well worth it in terms of wellness and regaining serenity.
Away from the noise and clamor of metro areas and into the wilderness you’ll find a peace and quiet that is both internal as well as external.
It’s impossible to feel the full weight of everyday stressors while you’re clambering up a rugged, rocky trail — if you did, you’d likely trip and fall. It’s hard to be mired in the nitty gritty of your to-do list while gazing out from a mountaintop. You can’t help but experience a perspective shift when, quite literally, you’ve shifted your perspective from your inbox to the horizon.
CAN’T MAKE IT TO THE MOUNTAINS? NO PROBLEM.
Sure, the exercise of a vigorous weekend backpacking trip is undoubtedly good for you, but even a lunch break spent in a nearby park will do the trick and, honestly, even a 10-minute excursion will do you a lot of good.
GET OUTSIDE: Here’s why
- Improves cognition and short-term memory (Ditto Zolt)
- Reduces stress — Simply being in nature is beneficial, but exercising in nature’s even better, since getting your heart pumping also lowers your stress levels. (Ditto Zolt)
- Gets your creative juices flowing, thanks to that sensory feast we mentioned before. Finding your flow state with Zolt can also achieve this.
- Increases levels of Vitamin D, which strengthens your bones and reduces risk of many diseases including cancer.
- Reduces inflammation, which can contribute to everything from depression to autoimmune disease. Getting out into the woods lowers levels of inflammation in the body, as does Zolt.
- Improves sleep. This is a biggie. Spending time in natural light helps us realign with our body’s circadian rhythms, which promotes just-right levels of melatonin (super helpful). Side note: Dreamy can help with that too!
- Helps deepen your sense of spirituality. From nature’s abundance of metaphors (flowing rivers and changing seasons, anyone?) to its sheer power to ground you in the moment, venturing into the woods truly feeds your soul.
- Strengthens immunity. This is extra helpful as we head into the colder months. PS: Boost+ deserves a shout-out on the immunity front also.
- Improves sense of wellbeing and promotes happiness. (Ditto Zolt. What the heck — since we’re on the subject, do yourself a favor and grab a Variety Pack while you’re here.)
DOUBLE UP: THE BENEFITS OF CBD AND NATURE
A venn diagram that’s almost a circle
Coincidentally, so many of hiking’s benefits overlap directly with those of hemp (improved cognition, reduced stress, increased sense of well-being…you get the idea.) Packing a mixie of Zolt hemp CBD isolate or full-spectrum hemp powder to blend into your water bottle can further compound those benefits (bonus: it’s super convenient).
Spending time in nature is a wellness Swiss Army knife. No matter your age or where you live, getting outdoors into whatever nearby wilderness will make you feel better, smarter, more connected, and serene.
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