The tug of war between staying inside and intentionally going outside is very real. Screens vie for our attention, while the comfy couch lures us to settle amongst the cushions. For those who work inside an office building or warehouse, there is little need to step outside except to reach the mode of transportation home. Remote workers are exempted from needing to go outside at any point, and if not intentional, could be inside the home for days at a time. Stay-at-home moms often choose indoor play over having to get children dressed to go to a park or to the back yard.

I recall watching the 1976 movie “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble” and wondering what his world must be like, having never walked in the forest like the one I lived in, never swimming in the ocean; never swinging so high his feet could touch the sky.  In real life, a young boy named David Vetter was living his best life inside of bubbles in Texas, due to the rare SCID disease (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency).

David’s life was lived moving between bubbles NASA designed for him. At the age of six, he took his first steps outside, in a specially designed bubble spacesuit designed by NASA. Each time he wanted to go outside, his medical team had to follow a 24-step protocol followed by a 28-step process to get into the space suit and properly seal it. Today, children living with SCID are able to live outside of bubbles, thanks to medical advancements.

When I feel lazy and unmotivated to lace up my sneakers and get outside, I think of David and how difficult it was for him to go outside, get off the couch and step out to the porch. Below are seven benefits to being outside.

Being Outside Connects You to Your Creator

You don’t need to take many steps or breaths to begin connecting to your Creator. As you begin to inhale the scents, your eyes begin to take in the sights of creation. If you take the time to observe creation around you as you walk the neighborhood or park, you will find an endless variety of living things. Rather than merely walking past, if you give thought to the intricacy of each, praise will arise and you will feel connected to God.

Romans 1:20 (NLT) speaks to this truth. “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

Improves Your Mental Well-Being

Living life inside physiologically causes us to become depressed. We have been created to live in creation, not in the sterile environment of a home or workplace. Getting outside and communing with God in nature will boost your mood in as little as fifteen minutes. The sounds of laughter, traffic, birds chirping, and planes overhead are life-giving.

My grandson is only a few months old and it is amazing to see how easily he can be soothed by taking him outside to watch trees swaying in the breeze and the birds soaring through the air. Just as his demeanor shifts, so will yours. As you take in the sights and sounds, stress and anxiety will dissipate and give way to a sense of connectedness and contentment.

The Sun Boosts Your Immune System

Reducing stress and anxiety automatically boosts your immune system, as does soaking up the natural vitamin D from the sun. Very little time is needed to derive benefits, less in the summer and a little longer in the winter months when the sun’s rays are not as strong.

My fair skin burns easily, but I have learned the value of spending the first twenty minutes outside with no sunscreen. Even in the cooler weather, I intentionally bare as much skin as possible each day, specifically to soak up the immune boosting sun rays. While many opt for supplements, going outside is a great option for boosting your immune system.

While many opt for supplements, going outside is a great option for boosting your immune system.

Improves Physical Fitness

If you use time outside to walk rather than soak up the sun while sitting, you will improve your physical fitness as well. Others prefer to work in gardens. Bending, stooping, and pulling all serve to tone muscles. Avid outdoor enthusiasts hike nature trails and mountains, using muscles they didn’t know existed.

Fresh air expands our lungs automatically, as they dilate and improve the cleansing action. The more we practice deep breathings outside, the stronger our lungs become (assuming there are no medical conditions).

Helps You Sleep More Soundly

There’s truth in my wise grandma’s words “fresh air will help you sleep”, as she made us go outside to play. I’m not a medical doctor but I do extensive research and have discovered a truth that perplexes me; being outside improves cell functions in our eyes necessary for setting our internal clocks. While afternoon is beneficial, for reasons yet understood, the morning outdoor light appears to have a greater impact on our ability to sleep at night.

Referencing back to the physical activity often done when outside, we know engaging in tasks that tax our muscles slightly causes us to sleep better at night. Likewise, as our mental well-being improves and our minds are more relaxed, sleep comes more easily.

Provides Socialization

Unless you live in a rural area, you’re likely to encounter people while you are outside. If you make a habit of being outside at the same time as neighbors, you’ll have a chance to say hello and connect on some level. Taking a lunch break and going for a walk in a park near your office building provides the opportunity to socialize with food truck owners, baristas, and co-workers. While it may only be surface level socialization, it is beneficial to interact with humans outside  of your house or cubicle.

Refocuses Your Mind

Have you ever been working on a project and felt brain fog setting in? The more you try to push through the wall, the less your brain collaborates with your efforts. If you’re a coffee lover like me, you might get up from your desk to refill your cup before sitting down to stare at the screen again. A better option would be to step outside.

Spending a few minutes outside, breathing in the air and enjoying nature will help clear your mind, resetting your ability to think and reason.

Your brain responds positively to being out in nature as pleasure is found and gives a needed boost. Spending a few minutes outside, breathing in the air and enjoying nature will help clear your mind, resetting your ability to think and reason.

I pray you see the value of being in nature and are reminded of the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical benefits you will reap if you commit to stepping outside at least twenty minutes a day.