Adventure is a form of play that challenges us to get out of our comfort zones and learn something new. It’s exhilarating, fun, and necessary for a healthy mind, body, and psyche, especially as we age. In her quest to find active, adventurous post-menopausal women for her book, Tough Broad: from Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking –How Outdoor Adventure Improves our Lives as we Age, author Caroline Paul discovered that these women’s attitudes towards aging, play and the great outdoors helped improve their well-being. Women who considered age to be just a number, rather than a defining characteristic of their abilities or identities were much more likely to be healthy and active. Whether wing walking, scuba diving, base jumping, or bird watching, these women believed that regardless of age, they could learn new things and challenge themselves. Most importantly, they did so outdoors.
Expanding beyond your comfort zone and getting out into nature are powerful tools for transforming your overall well-being. As human beings, we’re built to spend time in nature. Our eyes have evolved so that we’re well adapted to noticing fractals, or recurring patterns in nature, such as leaves, branches, and blades of grass. It’s soothing to look at these patterns. Plus, when we’re out in nature, trees emit chemicals called phytoncides that strengthen our immune systems and lower blood pressure.
Just compare how you feel spending eight hours behind the blue light of a screen all day, versus outside in nature, be it near a lake, forest, or mountains, and you’ll notice the drastic difference. In fact, increased screen time is associated with anxiety, depression, and poor sleep habits (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11638915/#:~:text=Previous%20studies%20indicate%20that%20increased,levels%20of%20anxiety%20and%20depression.) Whereas time in nature decreases anxiety and depression and lowers stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline.
So what are you waiting for? Think back to what you enjoyed doing as a child. What really lit you up, and commit to incorporating that into your life. You’ll not only be doing yourself a favor, but that positive shift in you has a ripple effect on all those around you. And if you need help discovering your next adventure, email us, we’re happy to support you