Great Reasons to Unplug and Get Outside

Photo: Lifewire.com

If you’re like most of us, your wireless device is practically attached to your body. Did you ever stop to think how many times you look at your phone every day? Not necessarily doing anything on it, like checking email, hopping on social media, or playing a game…just looking at it. A recent study completed by Deloitte found that the average American checks their phone (yes, just looks at it) an average of 46 times a day—collectively, that’s 8 billion times a day.  

Just think about that for a minute.

Smartphones and other devices have become ingrained in our everyday lives, but taking a break from them now and then is good for our overall health. So now that summer is here and there’s plenty of daylight, see what a difference it makes when you look away from your screen and get outside for a few hours. If you need more convincing, below are a few reasons why getting outside is good for you:

Vitamin D. Too much sun exposure can be harmful, but getting some outside time actually helps your body produce vitamin D, an essential element for good bone and muscle health. A vitamin D deficiency can lead to a number of long-term health problems, including heart disease, cognitive impairment in older adults, and even cancer.  

Stress reliever. Plain old fresh air and sunshine can help lower your blood pressure, and doing some sort of outdoor activity, like taking a walk or working in a garden, is a good form of exercise. Have you ever gotten angry over something you saw on social media? Do you really want to add more stress to your life? You might be surprised how much taking a break from social media or curbing your screen time can help reduce your stress level.

Reconnect with nature, friends, and family. Summer is the perfect time for gatherings with friends and family, whether it’s a picnic or party for a special occasion (like graduation or July 4), and actually talk to other people in person rather than texting or messaging.  But you don’t need a reason to go outside—grab a book (a real book, not an e-reader), a beverage, and hang out on your front porch or back deck or patio and simply watch the world go by. We get so consumed with doing something every minute, or being accessible and knowing what’s going on at all times, sometimes the best thing we can do is unplug, do nothing, and take some time for ourselves.

How do you keep your e-addiction in check?  We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!