Vikings lived outside: they rowed, farmed, hunted and traveled on foot through all four seasons. Most of us now spend our days under a roof and in front of a screen. Here are a few reasons, backed by research, to take a page from the Norse and get outside, especially in an Alaska winter.
Improved Health and Fitness
Going outdoors provides lots of opportunity for physical fitness activities. In Alaska, a good hike is just minutes away by car, even in Anchorage. Because of our wildlife, majestic scenery, and dramatic light shows from the sun, stars, and the aurora borealis, every outdoor experience is different. Get outdoors and improve your health through increased physical activity. The best outdoor experiences make it easy to forget that you’re exercising.
Improved Mood
Physical activity releases endorphins and other brain chemicals linked to a better mood, and regular exercise is one of the best-supported everyday measures against mild depression and anxiety. Time outdoors seems to add something on top of the exercise itself.
Researchers are still sorting out why. Daylight helps set the body’s sleep-wake clock, and sunlight on skin makes vitamin D, which many Alaskans run short of in winter. Study after study finds that people who spend more time outdoors report better mood and less stress. Whatever the mechanism, it is worth the walk. In summer, wear sunscreen; the Alaska sun is stronger than it feels.
No Distractions
We are surrounded by screens everywhere we go. Smart phones have become our main form of entertainment. Televisions in restaurants and bars provide visual stimulation everywhere we go. Electronic billboards change their messages frequently. A new message chimes or vibrates in our pockets or on our watches. There are very few times when we can spend time alone, without the constant interruption of something trying to get our attention.
Simply being outside, with the phone off, gives us the opportunity to get away from the constant demands on our attention. Instead, we can take things slower, focus on what we choose to see, smell, touch, and experience.
Protect Vision
Hours of close-up screen work tire the eyes: blinking slows and the focusing muscles stay locked at one distance, which is why eyes feel dry and strained by evening. Time outdoors gives them a break and lets them refocus on distant hills and moving water. In children, more time outdoors is also associated with lower rates of nearsightedness. Natural light will not fix a prescription, but the rest is real.
The Asgard Alaska Experience
At Asgard Alaska we want to help people unplug and reconnect with the world around them. Alaska’s wild setting is the perfect reminder that we’re human beings, built to pay attention to one thing at a time.
Guests who stay with us at Asgard Alaska overnight will be able to experience Alaskan nights the way they were meant to be seen. During the summer, long hours of daylight will amaze those from out of state. As nights get longer, the clear view of the stars, the moon and the aurora borealis, when active, will create a sense of awe and a perspective that people can’t find in the night glare of electric lights of the city.
Additionally, visitors to Asgard Alaska are more likely to get the benefits of spending time outdoors after their experience with us when they pick up a new hobby, like traditional archery or axe throwing. These activities are exercise, even though they feel more like fun.
If we have forgotten any of your favorite outdoor activities, please use the comments box below to remind us and let us know what you like to do most while spending time outside in the wilderness. To keep informed about the work we’re doing and our activities, sign up below for our newsletter.
