How much sun do you get each day?
If you’re like me and work in an office all day then it can be challenging to get sun every day.
And it’s weird, but over my lifetime the sun has kind of gotten a bad reputation. My generation has always had our parents telling us to put on sunscreen and to avoid staying in the sun too long.
Yeah, you can get a little sunburn if you haven’t been in the sun awhile, but the more I read about it the more I see the benefits of being out in the sun.
I try to get outside to get some sun each day. It’s not always easy, but I try to make it happen.
Here are some of the reasons why.
1. Vitamin D
The sun is a great way to get Vitamin D. I live in Wisconsin and we don’t get sun during the winter. And the more I read about Vitamin D the more it seems that some of the common health issues, especially in north climates, could be a result of Vitamin D deficiency.
Yes, you can take supplements and they put some Vitamin D in milk and I think some veggies have Vitamin D, but you can’t replace the value of good old sunshine.
It’s great for your health and helps build the immune system to prevent common health issues.
2. Happiness
There is evidence that a lack of sunshine can affect your mood. And if you’re in a bad mood the sun can help to bring you back into a happy mood.
Most, but surprisingly not all, people I meet want to be happier. If you’ve been struggling with mood issues then getting more sun could be a way to make yourself happier.
3. Activity
I like to golf. It’s one of my favorite hobbies. I do golf sometimes when it’s raining and cloudy, but usually I’ll stay home and I end up watching TV or reading, which isn’t bad.
But when it’s sunny out I like to golf or do something else outside. It seems that getting out in the sun brings out activity in us. Maybe it’s simply going for a walk or maybe it’s golfing or whatever.
When the sun is out and we’re taking advantage of it we’re usually doing some activity and getting some natural exercise that improves our health.
4. Inspiration
Have you ever struggled to think something through or to get new ideas?
A great solution can be to get out in the sun and look around. The sun feels good on your skin and it seems to provide some inspiration. You can change your environment and that helps to get your mind thinking in new ways, which can spark creativity.
5. Serendipity
Finally, when you’re out in the sunshine you’re usually out amongst people. Others will be out in the sun and that can lead to serendipitous meetings. If you’ve been in business even for a short while you know that many good things happen because of serendipity. It’s difficult to manufacture serendipity, obviously, but you can make yourself more aware of it and maybe more likely to experience it if you’re out in the sun with others.
Final Thought
The sun gets a bad reputation sometimes, but it’s perhaps mankind’s greatest resource. For years, humans have looked to the sun even has a god and for good reason. It can help us in numerous ways including making us healthier, happier and more successful. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and go for a walk right now in the sun!