Nearly over a month of school has flown by, and online classes are getting in full swing. When I was on campus, I would spend so much of my time going to coffee shops or sitting in Monroe Park to study with a couple of friends. However, now I feel like I’m constantly stuck between the four walls of my bedroom. My routine has become so mundane, and the only time I go outside is to the grocery store. I am sure a lot of people who are taking online classes from home feel this way as well. The change from a somewhat hectic lifestyle to attending zoom meetings and completing homework assignments from the exact same spot in your home is definitely overwhelming. This is why I believe that it is important to spend some time outdoors so you can refresh and recharge yourself to finish the semester strong!
According to an article published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, spending time outside can improve your overall health and wellbeing by increasing vitamin D and allowing for opportunities to be physically active. Nearly 42% of the US population has vitamin D deficiency, which ultimately results in cardiovascular disease, impaired cognition or cancer. Going outside for just five to ten minutes can significantly improve vitamin D levels in your body and lower your need for supplements. In fact, when you go outside, you don’t need to just sit out on your porch and watch the birds chirp. You can take a walk around your neighborhood with a close friend or family member to get some physical exercise. This way, you’ll have an opportunity to be active but also spend time with your loved ones, and that can reduce overall stress levels.
If you’re like me and love to engage in fall festivities, then I would definitely recommend going to a pumpkin patch or a corn maze. COVID-19 is still very much an ongoing pandemic, so I would bring a mask and hand sanitizer, but just walking around a pumpkin patch will release serotonin in your brain and make you enjoy the autumn weather much more. It’ll be a wonderful self-care opportunity as well. Another fall activity that I enjoy is having a picnic. I know that picnics are more of a summer activity, but if the weather isn’t too chilly, then I love to get some tomato soup, grilled cheese along with a nice hot honey and cinnamon latte and spend time with my family outdoors.
Spending time outside doesn’t have to mean jogging around in the heat or kayaking in a polluted lake. It can be something as small as having a picnic or going for a walk in your neighborhood. These activities will help you focus and be more productive in school but will also help with vitamin D deficiency. With that being said, whenever you are outside, please don’t forget to bring your mask, hand sanitizer and maintain social distancing guidelines. Even though universities and stores have opened up, that doesn’t mean that COVID-19 has left. It is still here, and you can get infected, so be safe!