People are increasingly spending longer indoors. This is often even worse for people that work desk jobs and drive to work.
All they are doing is walk to their parked cars, drive to work, sit at their desks possibly all day then walk back to their cars, drive to their homes, and park right outside their doors.
At least those that commute walk to and from the bus stop and spend longer time outdoors.
One study twenty years ago found that individuals spend up to 93% of their time indoors. As our shelters became larger and studier, the time we spend in them has similarly increased.
Our bodies are built to anticipate the outside and this break in expected cycles has significant effects on our physical and mental state.
Sleep trouble and appetite changes
The moodiness and depression linked to little exposure to sunlight compromise sleep resulting in tossing and turning. Sunlight also contributes to the working of the body’s internal clock also referred to as the biological time. Natural light and other external environmental let the body know to remain awake during the day and cue the brain to release melatonin to assist us to sleep in the dark. If you’re having trouble sleeping at nighttime, venture out for some minutes during the day, this exposure to the sun during the day will facilitate your sleep.
Lack of fat-soluble vitamin
Exposure to D aka the sunshine vitamin is critical for overall health. It’s named sunshine vitamin because exposure to the sun is that the primary source of fat-soluble vitamins. Although it is possible to induce fat-soluble vitamins through diet, it still is not sufficient because most of it’s made by our skin through exposure to sunlight.
Myopia/Short-sightedness
An increasing number of adults have poor eyesight with research linking this to not spending enough time outdoors as children. Being outdoors trains the eyes to determine distant objects and with children spending longer indoors, their eyes are learning to focus only on nearby items which leads their eyesight to suffer. Developing eyes need exposure to good quality light which can’t be found indoors. In Singapore as an example, 85% of youngsters have myopia compared to only 30% of the older generation.
Anxiety, depression, and moodiness
Being sedentary, less social with less interactive and outdoor activities where you’re exposed to the sun hurts mood. Anxiety and depression both go up when people are inside for extended lengths of your time. Sunlight results in a rise in serotonin which may be a mood-boosting neurotransmitter. Low levels of serotonin are linked to mood swings, depression, and anxiety. Exposure to the sun increases levels of serotonin.
Weakened system
Vitamin D may be a key nutrient in strengthening the system. Stress and loneliness from being cooped up indoors can even weaken the system over time, making you more prone to germs and compromising your ability to fight disease.
Fatigue
Staying indoors for extended periods may also cause overwhelming amounts of hopelessness or lethargy. So if you discover yourself consistently low on energy, physical or otherwise, it should be time to move outside and catch some sun rays.
