Enjoy the Weather All Year Long For Your Health and Happiness

Many of us are what you might call “fair-weather nature lovers.” When the sun comes out and the mercury rises, we rush out to parks and hikes and revel in the warmth. But once the sky clouds over, the rain starts coming down, and the temperatures plummet to icy levels, we duck inside and bundle up away from the shifting temperaments of Mother Nature. Alas, when we do this, we miss out on the changing seasons and the beauty of the outdoors as it evolves over the months. Today, let’s change our mindset about the great outdoors and learn how to enjoy the weather all year long.

Fall in Love With Cold Fall or Winter Weather: The Health Benefits of Scandinavian Friluftsliv

One need only look to countries and climates that are almost never balmy, summery havens, to see in real-time why and how people embrace being outdoors even when the weather isn’t what we might call ideal.

A powerful case study can be found in Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden or Norway. There, you may find people talking about friluftsliv when it comes to enjoying nature in the ice, wind, rain and cold. The literal translation of friluftsliv is the “open air life,” reports Thomas Beery at the University of Minnesota. But it runs so much deeper than simply enjoying life outdoors. It’s being connected to nature, and being immersed in outdoor recreation, through all seasons of life.

And researchers say this is profound for our wellness on numerous levels. According to a study published in the International Journal of Well-Being, those who shift their idea of winter weather and embrace “positive wintertime mindsets” are much more psychologically healthy and happy. This contradicts the cliched idea that dark, cold weather makes us more depressed and unhappy. Perhaps it’s a positive mindset, plus getting outdoors and enjoying the weather regardless of what that weather is, that could be the secret?

If you want to embrace weather in all seasons, and all year long, here’s how.

How to Develop a Positive Outdoor Recreation and Weather Mindset in the Fall and Winter

1. Stop Using Positive and Negative Language

“Wow, it’s so nice out,” you might say. “Ugh, it’s really gross now,” you may mutter. Mindset is all about language. Be self-aware of the language you use to describe nature and the weather, and instead simply view nature as it is rather than being good or bad.

2. Take Action Instead of Waiting For Motivation

We often think we need the “courage” or motivation to go for a hike in the rain, or have a picnic in the snow. Yet research shows that action begets motivation, and not the other way around.

“The motivation trap, as stated by Dr. Russ Harris states that we wait to feel motivated before we take any action,” warns Psychology Today magazine. “Now you might be asking, what’s the problem with that? The problem is that if you’re always waiting for motivation to hit, you may be waiting your whole life. While you’re waiting on motivation, motivation is waiting on you. Because committed action comes first and motivation comes second.”

Instead, get into weather-appropriate clothing (bundle up especially if it’s cold and icy!) and get outdoors! Once you’re out in nature, regardless of the season, you’ll feel invigorated, energized, and thrilled with happiness. And that will instantly build more motivation to enjoy the great outdoors regardless of the weather, and you’ll find your mindset shifting dramatically when it comes to how you perceive cold, wind, rain and sleet.

3. Find Ways to Make the Weather Special

Finally, celebrate the weather when it’s not warm, sunny and summer-y. Create traditions or rituals that make the fall or winter especially sacred to you. That might mean doing regular events or rituals like bonfires, s’more roasts, hot chocolate nights under a frigid starry sky, etc.

Last but not least, don’t forget your immune support. While the idea that cold weather creates colds or illnesses is not true, outdoor recreation in more harsh temperatures can tax your body and immune system. When embracing the joys of the fall and winter weather, boost your immunity with BioPro-Plus 500. Besides essential thymic proteins, BioPro-Plus also contains Zinc Gluconate, which is clinically proven to shorten the duration of infection from the common cold virus and enhances immune response. BioPro-Plus 500 also has Nano Silver Solution which is well documented as having antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties

References:

• https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/107691/Beery_umn_0130E_11804.pdf
• https://internationaljournalofwellbeing.org/index.php/ijow/article/view/935
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-addiction-connection/201708/the-myth-motivation