Think all sunny days make you happy? Not if you stay inside all day, they don’t! In fact, a recent study involving more than 600 people shows that those who spent 30 minutes outside soaking up the sun on those rare beautiful days leading up to spring felt more alert, imaginative, optimistic and upbeat—and scored higher on memory and computing tests—than folks who stayed cooped up inside knowing that gorgeous weather was just a few steps away, reports the journal Psychological Science. The link? Being outside helps reset your mind, while staying indoors when you know it’s nice out triggers resentment and makes normal indoor activities feel boring or irritating, explains study leader Matthew Keller, Ph.D.
[photo: Emery_Way]
