Sunshine isn’t only good for a day at the beach. The amount of daylight sun you take in has a direct effect on your mental health, which means getting outside boosts your mood. There are so many ways to take advantage of the warmer months, getting much needed sun exposure while you’re at it.
For some, the darker months also mean the return of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. The return of the light (and getting outdoors to enjoy it) can help you to not only overcome your current blues, but store up some much-needed Vitamin D to help you next year.
Here are just a few ways to help you enjoy the sunny months ahead.
Get Close to Nature
Once winter has ended its annual reign, we’re all eager to get closer to the outdoors we’ve missed so much. In addition to knowing that getting outside boosts your mood, you’ll reap the benefits of being more active, a win for you and your mental health.
Activities like swimming, kayaking, playing soccer with friends, or even just reading a book in the park will give you sun exposure while doing something enjoyable. Physical activity is known for releasing endorphins. Combine that with the serotonin your body produces when exposed to the sun, and you’ll see your mental health improve.
Connect with Your Community
Spring and summer are great seasons to catch up with the people in your community who you haven’t seen in a while. Getting outside boosts your mood, but so does spending time with people you share interests with. Your mental health will reap the rewards of attending a community-wide picnic in the sun or hitting up a local festival. Sun exposure is only one of the benefits.
Join the Circle of Life
Gardening is a great way to tap into the benefits of sun exposure while connecting more deeply with the natural world. You might grow your favorite vegetables in your yard or at a community garden where you can meet people from your community, or create a pollinator patch where you can spend time observing the lives of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Studies show that gardening helps people maintain balanced mental health, making this a double win.
No matter how you choose to enjoy the warmer months, your mental health will thank you for the added vitamin D and serotonin your body can take advantage of. Our health’s unique connection to the sun is only part of what makes this time of year so exciting.
Contact Bluewater Psychiatry