If you haven’t already felt somewhat cooped up, it’s a great time to get outdoors (with precautions!) with the weather getting warmer, and for many of us, another month of doing our due diligence of staying home.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends about 93% of their life indoors (87% inside, and 6% in their cars). That’s a vast chunk of our life! We can begin to change that by spending just a little bit of time each day stepping out into nature. (By the way: Happy Belated Earth Day, everyone; let’s celebrate by getting outdoors more this month!)

Here are 3 main benefits to spending more time outside:

1) Getting your daily dose of Vitamin D! Sunshine provides our bodies with the ability to generate more Vitamin D in the kidneys and liver. Most Americans aren’t producing enough Vitamin D from food sources alone. Spending even just 15-20 minute a day in the sun can help boost these levels. Vitamin D supports a healthy immune system, and can fend off depression symptoms, and can even potentially protect against osteoporosis or terminal illnesses like heart disease or stroke in the long run.

2) Being outside can increase your mood and concentration. Ever feel like sometimes you just can’t seem to catch a break? “Walking away” from a stressful situation both in the figurative and literal terms can make for a perfect time to take a quick stroll around the block, disconnect from your devices and allow yourself to just take in the energy of the outside world. Ever catch yourself aimlessly scrolling on that screen? Might be time to unplug and get out the door!

3) This will allow you variance in your exercise! Both its scenery or type of physical activity. If you’ve been spending the majority of your time indoors, outdoor exercise can allow you to change it up and add some excitement to your daily workouts. Whether you CrossFit, run, bike, dance or practice yoga–you can do essentially any type of exercise outside, and change up your scenery too.

You’ll find that these 3 tips will often go hand-in-hand, and you can reap the benefits of all 3 on some days too!

We want to hear from you: how do you enjoy your time outside?? Post a picture on social media and tag #CFDPGoesOutdoors