Get some fresh air, your brain needs it

According to a professional at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Stauss, “It appears that interacting with natural spaces offers other therapeutic benefits. For instance, calming nature sounds and even outdoor silence can lower blood pressure and levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which calms the body’s fight-or-flight response.” It’s that easy people…get outside. Get some fresh air, your brain needs it.

Going outside can improve your energy, relieve stress, get your creative juices flowing and is great for your mental health. It is such perfect weather to go outside and there are so many things to do in the Fargo-Moorhead area that involves being outside. This past week I went to a park near campus, as well as Lindenwood Park. At both of these parks, my friends and I went ‘mocking’ or hammocking. Some of them did homework, unlike me, who took a nap in the hammock.

While being at a park near campus, Percy Godwin Park, many people were out walking their dogs, playing a sport or hammocking. At Lindenwood Park, there were many people walking on the trails with their dogs, along with some who were biking or rollerblading.

This week may be one of the last warm weeks we will have for a while, why not get outside and enjoy it? My goal for this week is to spend at least an hour outside a day and I think you can complete this goal too. Before we know it, there will be snow on the ground and we will be bundled back up in our parkas, hats and mittens. I know I am not looking forward to it, but I am enjoying the nice late fall weather we are having right now.

Around campus, I have seen a lot more people than usual out and about. There are people actually walking to the dining centers, rather than taking the tunnels and I have seen a lot of longboarders and people playing spike ball. It is such a joy seeing everyone take advantage of this warm weather, you should be taking advantage of it too.

Some fun things to do outside when the fall weather is beautiful like this include: walking downtown, go look at the cool street art (and take some Instagram worthy pics), walk around campus, go to a park, go to the Red River Zoo, or maybe even go golfing. I know I will be completing some of these things on this list in the next few weeks. Some more ideas may be found via NDSU Campus Attractions, these are more than likely fun, even though a lot of it is over Zoom.

All I am asking is that you go outside this week. Get some fresh air, give yourself a break from homework. You will feel less stressed, feel more creative and have better mental health. Just by being outside for an hour I can tell that I have more energy, feel more relaxed and am happier. Imagine how less stressed, happier and more energized you would be by going outside today. Get outside Bison.