Summer, it's the most wonderful time of the year! The sun is shining, spring has sprung and school is out (for most of us anyway). While many people see summer as just another season of the year, for the majority of college students this is a time of freedom giving us a much-needed break from the craziness of papers, exams and the dreaded alarm clock waking us up for early classes. But, with this new found freedom comes great power and responsibility. Too often we fall into the trap of sitting down to watch an episode of our favorite show on Netflix, only to find ourselves still sprawled on the couch bingeing episodes hours later. Personally, I find myself in this same situation far too often and only feel guilty for not spending the time I wasted on the couch enjoying the beautiful summer day outside. Because of this habit I’ve developed I have made it a point to spend as much of my summer as possible in the great outdoors. Since making more of a conscious effort to spend some quality time outside I’ve come up with 10 reasons to spend your summer outdoors. Enjoy!

1. Vitamin D

Being outdoors has many health benefits, one of them being the benefits of absorbing Vitamin D. Our bodies need Vitamin D, which is an essential nutrient that helps with fighting diseases, healthy bones, skin and teeth all through being produced in our bodies when our bare skin is exposed to sunlight. So don’t be afraid to go out and soak up some sun! But, WEAR SUNSCREEN PLEASE!!!! UV Rays can be so damaging to your skin and cause premature ageing and skin cancer. We may not see the damages right away but as we age we can have adverse effects that are irreversible.

2. You can only binge-watch so many shows on Netflix.

Let’s face it, we are a part of a generation that is obsessed with reality tv, social media and yes, ESPECIALLY NETFLIX. When we’re feeling bored and sitting at home one of our first choices is to always go spend it being a couch potato and binge our current favorite show only to finish it later and fall into a “show-hole,” not knowing what else to watch or even what else to do. Just make sure to pace yourselves, people! And take much-needed breaks to go outside and enjoy the beautiful day!

3. Improve Thinking And Creativity

Going outside is proven to improve thinking and creativity. Being cooped up indoors all day can make many people feel lethargic, unmotivated and uninspired. However, a study found that people immersed in nature for four days - significantly more time than a lunchtime walk in the park - boosted their performance on a creative problem-solving test by 50%.

4. Decreasing Anxiety and Depression

Spending time outdoors can ease anxiety and depression and further the effects when it’s combined with exercise.This often occurs thanks to many natural colors that occur in nature such as hues of green and blue, and scents such as lilac, jasmine, roses, the ocean and trees.

5. Perfect Weather

Summer promises the ability to go outside and experience the best things in some of the best weather! Depending on your location summer promises prime time for the beach, hiking and playing in lakes and the promise for a good memorable time outdoors.

6. Summer Festivals and Movie Nights

Arguably one of the most fun outdoor events of the summer season are the festivals and outdoor movie nights! No matter where you are at there is most likely going to be an amazing food, music or movie festival happening somewhere near you. These are usually great community events where you can come together with friends and or family for a day or even night outdoors enjoying each others company, good vibes and the summer sun! Personally, these are one of my favorite parts of summer as they are also usually paired with an outdoor picnic! I definitely recommend doing some research and seeing if you can attend one near you!

7. Reuniting With Friends and Family

Lastly, one of the best reasons for spending your summer outdoors is reuniting with friends and family. So many of us, (Especially if you’re in college reading this) have the opportunity to see people we may have not seen in awhile and reconnect with friends we were far from while away at school. It is so easy to just invite a friend over to watch a movie, but some of the best memories made with friends and family are from wild adventures, and exploring that the beautiful outdoors has to offer!