Get Out There! 3 Benefits of Being Outdoors

As we officially enter the fall season, it is the perfect time to start enjoying the comfortable, cooler days outside once again and observe the leaves changing to their beautiful fall colors. It’s also the perfect time to take part in some outdoor activities that are fun for you - and good for your health! Here are three top benefits of being outdoors and staying active!  

Being outdoors can provide one with a lot of stimulation. There are a multitude of things to see and do, and all of this can help to also improve one’s mood and mental health. Go for a walk and take in the sights, smells, and sounds that nature has to offer. The relaxation that nature supplies help to decrease anxiety while increasing overall feelings of happiness.  

There are over six miles of walking trails that weave throughout the Collington campus, with plentiful beautiful sights to see along the way, including the six-acre lake – a perfect spot to sit and take it all in. You will typically find several residents outside taking advantage of the scenic bucolic campus tucked away from the everyday buzz. Collington residents enjoy staying active outdoors with tennis and pickleball, gardening or just a stroll around the campus. With every minute they enjoy outdoors, they enhance their day just a little more within Collington’s natural surroundings.  

By walking and exercising outdoors, not only will you feel better overall, but the activity can lead to a more restful night of sleep. Getting the proper amount of sleep leaves you feeling refreshed the next morning and also helps to prevent health conditions that are often present with lack of sleep, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. It also reduces your chance of developing dementia.  

Being in the outdoor sunshine also increases your natural Vitamin D intake, which decreases your risk of physical ailments. It only takes 15 minutes a day in the sunlight to receive your daily recommended dose! Vitamin D plays a big part in calcium absorption, which not only wards off ailments, but also keeps your bones healthy as you age. 

3. Socialize and Make a New Friend 

Isolation is common as we get older, and this can negatively affect our overall mental health.  With the outdoor social activities and amenities that are present at senior living communities, you not only get the natural benefits of being outdoors, but you also receive the benefits of socializing with fellow residents.  

Healthy living is an integral part of Collington’s social culture. There are numerous ways to enhance outdoor wellness through the walking trails, pickleball courts, garden areas and more that are at the community. Many clubs and resident groups plan group activities like nature walks, group tennis matches, golf outings, kayak rides and more.  Visit our Wellness Center page to learn more how Collington is committed to providing our residents with a healthy and active lifestyle.