Outdoor Health Benefits, Year Round
There’s no question about it—spending time outdoors is good for you. At FineHouse, where we create architectural garden structures that blend with the natural landscape, we’re passionate about helping people enjoy the outdoors, no matter the season. Here’s why getting outside, even in winter, can lead to a happier, healthier you.
1. Boosted Mental Health and Reduced Stress
Spending time in nature has a profound impact on mental well-being. Studies consistently show that even brief exposure to green spaces lowers cortisol levels (the body’s stress hormone) and reduces feelings of anxiety and depression. The calming effect of nature helps counteract the constant overstimulation of modern life, grounding us and giving our minds space to reset.
For this reason, having a designated outdoor retreat in your garden or backyard can be incredibly beneficial. Structures like garden rooms, pergolas, and shelters create inviting spaces where you can escape for a few moments of peace, or even a whole afternoon of relaxation. Just stepping outside to enjoy a garden view or take a deep breath of fresh air can make a significant difference.
2. Improved Physical Health
Outdoor activities encourage movement, and even gentle exercise can have a transformative effect on physical health. Walking in the garden, doing some light yard work, or even spending time sitting in a beautiful outdoor space like a gazebo or pavilion can lower blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health, and strengthen muscles and bones.
If you’re looking to make exercise part of your routine, outdoor spaces can serve as a natural gym. Consider incorporating yoga or stretching sessions in a sheltered area in your garden. Or add a bench near your pergola to make resting and reflecting after a workout feel all the more special. The fresh air and sunlight help you feel energized, making physical activity less of a chore and more of a joy.
3. Exposure to Natural Light and Vitamin D
Sunlight exposure is critical for our bodies to produce vitamin D, a nutrient essential for bone health, immune function, and mood regulation. Vitamin D deficiency is common in colder seasons, so stepping outside, even briefly, can help maintain healthy levels. An outdoor space with a structure like an open gazebo or a sun-dappled pergola allows you to enjoy sunlight while being shielded from excessive exposure. Plus, during sunny days in winter, the warmth of natural light creates a cozy and uplifting experience.
Designing an outdoor area that feels welcoming even in the colder months makes it easier to get outside and soak up natural light. When you have an outdoor structure you enjoy, you're more likely to step outside, even if it’s just to feel the warmth of winter sun on your face.
4. Connection to Seasonal Rhythms and the Natural World
Experiencing the changing seasons up close cultivates a deeper appreciation for nature’s rhythms. Watching leaves turn golden in autumn, feeling the cool breeze of winter, witnessing the rebirth of plants in spring, or enjoying the lush greenery of summer—all can enrich our lives and add meaning to the time we spend outdoors.
A garden structure offers a unique “front-row seat” to these seasonal transformations. Imagine sipping a hot drink under the cover of a pergola as the first snow falls, or taking in the sights and sounds of birds in spring from the comfort of your gazebo. Each season brings new sights, scents, and sounds to enjoy. Time spent outdoors reminds us to slow down and observe the small yet impactful changes happening around us.
5. Boosted Immune System
Research suggests that being outdoors strengthens the immune system. Fresh air reduces the concentration of indoor pollutants, while exposure to different microbes in the soil, plants, and trees can help build a more resilient immune system. Cold-weather exposure also boosts immune function, prompting your body to produce more white blood cells.
Whether it’s enjoying tea in your garden room during winter or gathering under a shady pergola in the summer, creating inviting outdoor spaces encourages us to spend more time outside, allowing our bodies to benefit from this exposure.
Embrace the Outdoors Year-Round with FineHouse
At FineHouse, we design and build garden structures to help people experience nature’s health benefits through every season. Our goal is to create outdoor environments that make you feel connected, comfortable, and inspired to step outside.
Whether it’s a cozy pavilion in your garden or a stylish pergola for shade, we believe that thoughtful outdoor spaces elevate the joy of being outside. So go ahead—make the outdoors a part of your everyday wellness routine, and let each season bring something new and healthful to your life.
