July is National Park and Recreation month, and we're taking the opportunity to encourage everyone to get outside! Spending time in nature comes with a host of benefits, especially for those of us who spend most of our days in front of a screen. Here are some of our key messages and talking points that you can use to echo B4B this July:

1. Being outside helps us live longer, better and happier.

From a stroll through a city park to a day spent hiking in the wilderness, spending time outdoors helps us feel calmer, focus better, think more clearly and puts us in a better mood.

2. Just like with exercise, any time spent outdoors is better than none.

There’s no magic number of hours we should spend outside for maximum benefits, but it’s generally believed that more is better. Even just two hours in nature every week shows significant well-being benefits.

3. Can't go outside? Watch a nature video instead.

A study compared outcomes of people who walked outside with those of people who watched nature videos. While the effects were stronger in those who actually went outside, both groups saw improvements in attention, positive emotions and the ability to reflect on a life problem.

For more details about the program, visit the Blueprint for Balance page. Have any questions, suggestions or feedback? Email B4B@lhsfna.org.