I have an addiction. I can just about remember what it felt like before, back when I was a teenager, a little moody, prone to time brooding in my bedroom. In my 20s I got by with just a few binges a year, usually around the holidays when there was time off work. But since I moved to the Saanich Peninsula my addiction has grown and grown, and I now have a daily habit.
I can’t get by without spending time outdoors. Alright, so it’s not such a terrible compulsion after all, but it truly has become something that I suffer withdrawal from if I don’t get my regular fix. I’m not just talking about exercise in the outdoors – though that is a big thing for me – I’m talking about connecting your feet to soil, feeling tiny against the towering trees, the infinite shades of green in the forest and the never-ending soundscape of the sea.
Outdoors is where I go to clear my head, when I’m anxious, stressed about a deadline, worried about something I can’t change or anticipating something scary ahead. Immersing myself in the natural environment always seems to help bring me back to balance. It’s easier to put things in perspective when you are surrounded by a world that was here long before you, and in which you are just one insignificant organism.
Worldwide, the health benefits of spending time outdoors are being taken seriously, and extensively researched. There are studies that show walking in the woods can improve blood pressure, boost mental health and decrease cancer risk. There are documented decreases in both the heart rates and levels of cortisol (a stress-indicating hormone) of study participants who spent time in nature compared to those in the city. Multiple indicators of physical and mental health show improvement after time spent outdoors.
We live somewhere where the natural environment is very accessible, and at the start of summer season on the Island, what better time to launch our first Outdoor Issue? We’ve looked at the idea from the perspective of outings, activities and enhancing your private outdoor space. Go big with a camping trip, hike or water activity, or just move a chair into a sunny spot to drink your morning coffee. I guarantee you will benefit from a little more time outdoors.
