Changing Your Mindset by Spending Time Outside This Summer

If we learned anything from Phineas & Ferb, it’s that finding something to do during the summer is hard. As an adult, with a real job, it seems like that question is even more difficult. Summer is only here for a few months so there’s a little extra pressure on how we spend our weekends or how to strategically use that PTO to maximize time out of the office.

Spending Time Outdoors Promotes Good Health & Wellbeing

One of my favorite things since moving to the South has been spending time outdoors. Around this time 3 years ago I never really imagined myself as being an “outside girly”, but I found myself wandering through the city on foot, jogging in the park, or even reading a book on a bench. What I figured out is that it had a direct impact on my mood. Starting my day outside often lead to a better day and when I a needed a pick me up, a few hours outside typically did the trick.

What’s interesting is that research has shown that spending more time in nature positively impacts both your mental and physical health. One study actually suggested that spending 2 hours a week in outdoor spaces positively influenced overall wellbeing. That’s two hours total, even if you need to split your time between multiple sessions. The good news is you can start to implement this as soon as today! One of my favorite ways to do this has been visiting State & National parks.

3 Reasons You Should Visit a State or National Park This Summer

1. They’re Budget Friendly: The Parks that I have visited have been pretty cheap including: Skidaway State Park in Savannah, GA, Sesquicentinnial State Park in Columbia, SC & Chimney Rock State Park in Lake Lure, NC. I suggest visiting their website ahead for exact pricing and to make sure they accept both card and cash payments.

2. All Day Adventures: Once you’re in, you’re in! Many parks have activities for families and individuals including hiking, bike trails, special sites, and more. Pack a cooler and some snacks and you can even have a lunch in the grass or under a pavilion to make it a full day.

3. Make it a challenge: In addition to entrance fees per person, each state (as well as the national park service) offer a park passport that grants you entrance to unlimited parks for an entire year. As a plus, these typically include all the passengers in your vehicle or multiple individuals in your party. This gives you more bang (and memories) for your buck. You can even make it a personal challenge to visit as many parks as you can within your year.

If you’re not an outsider, like I was, I challenge you to spend more time outdoors. Your current and future self will thank you.

<3 Joi