One of the (holistic) advantages of living in Southwest Florida is the opportunity to connect with nature all year long. Here are some useful hacks on how to use your surroundings to enhance (and perk up) your joie de vivre:
Let in an Early Breeze.
Perk up your step with a 15-minute blast of fresh summer air first thing in the morning. This jump-starts the brain’s production of energizing endorphins and dopamine, eliminating fatigue for three hours straight.
Deep Breathing on the Beach.
The usual shallow chest breaths we are used to deprive us of oxygen, making us moody and fatigued. Instead, try watching the sunrise while taking deep belly breaths for an immediate mood improvement. A study at Penn State University found that people who practiced deep breathing for 10 minutes 3 times/day slashed their cortisol level by as much as 32%.
That’s huge because chronically elevated cortisol levels are responsible for hypertension, diabetes, and adrenal fatigue.
Color Therapy.
Turn your attention to the luscious red blooms, like Royal Poinciana trees. Take in the bright splashes of yellow of Tabebuia caraiba and Cassia trees. Marvel at the beauty of the purple of Hong Kong orchid and Jacaranda trees. Harvard University researchers found that gazing at bright garden colors kickstarts the production of revitalizing dopamine, chasing away tiredness for 67% of people in as little as 3 minutes.
Scratch Your Pet’s Back.
Stroking a pet isn’t just calming. Experts at the University of Buffalo say that it is also invigorating. That’s because just 3 minutes of close contact with furry friends comes with an inevitable perk—a triggered 38% boost in the energizing neurotransmitter serotonin.
Water the Plants.
Spending five minutes daily caring for something other than yourself—like watering your plants—significantly increases immune system strength within a week.
Beets as Energizers
Researchers at the UK University of Exeter discovered that after just 6 days of consuming local beets in juice form, subjects were able to exercise 16% longer before tiring!
Perk Up with Exercise.
Regular gentle workouts like walking help stimulate thyroid function and can also help build up the hippocampus—the brain’s memory center. The key is not to overdo it; try walking non-stop for just 30 minutes 3-5 times/week.
Watch the Sunset.
Taking as little as 20 minutes to relax outside while the sun goes down revs the production of sleep-inducing melatonin, improving sleep quality by 56%. Experts say that this can reduce your next day’s grogginess by 55%—as opposed to your perkiness.
