There’s a reason for the saying. Fresh air invigorates the spirit. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed or otherwise topsy turvy, getting outside helps. (Assuming you’re bundled up if it’s cold!)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stewing in my thoughts and once I step outside for a few minutes, gain a better perspective on the situation.
Complicit in getting yourself outside is the fact that that you will be moving to get outside, and physical movement itself helps you to feel better.
- There’s something about staying in one place that can sometimes (not always) feel stagnant, and something about moving that can feel rejuvenating. You’re moving your energy into a new space, and that opens up new possibilities! Namely, that whatever is weighing on you doesn’t have to and/or doesn’t have to feel the way it does.
Also, there’s nothing like a blast of wintry air this time of year. A blast of cold air stimulates your nervous system, which in turn regulates your stress response.
Not only that, but cold wind whipping around you is an immediate physical distraction that shifts your thoughts to your surrounding environment and away from whatever is on your mind.
Sometimes this space – between the thoughts you think and the time you spend dwelling in them – is what you need to come back with a fresh and grounded perspective.
If nothing else, a breath of fresh air is good for the body and helps wake you up, especially on those early work mornings. So step outside – or even crack a window – and inhale deeply. Feels like freshness.
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