If you ask homeowners about their favorite spot in the house, many will say the porch or patio. There are so many ways people can add pizzazz to their porches, it’s no surprise porches are where people prefer to spend their time.
Whether they choose to hang a swing, bring a little visual interest with lush plants, or brighten up their porch with a beautiful light fixture, there’s no end to the ways you can personalize your porch and make it a more comfortable place to hang out!
Did you know that spending time on the porch actually has health benefits? That’s right! There really are proven benefits to lounging around outside. Let’s check some out.
Reduces Stress
When you’re feeling stressed out, cortisol is released in the body. Cortisol is the stress hormone.
Studies have shown that spending time outdoors lowers cortisol levels. When people are outside, heart rate and blood pressure both go down. This means, all you have to do to feel less stress is walk out the front door. How great is that? It makes sense why sitting outside is so relaxing — it’s scientifically proven to be!
Improves Sleep Quality
Over time, humans have adapted to sleep when the sun is down and wake up as the sun rises. Back in 2015, Stanford issued a sleep survey to over 250,000 adults.
The survey questioned participants on their habits regarding time spent outdoors as well as the quality of their sleep. After researchers analyzed the survey results, they determined that the more time people spent outside, the higher their quality of sleep! The effect was particularly strong in men and adults over 65 years old.
If sipping your morning cup of coffee on the porch wasn’t already enjoyable enough, now you can take appreciation in knowing it’s also improving your quality of sleep!
Increases Energy
Better sleep isn’t the only reason you’ll feel more energy. You know what fatigue, low-energy, and a sour mood all have in common? They’re all symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.
Here’s a quick science lesson. The body uses glucose for energy. Insulin helps cells take in glucose so they can produce energy. Vitamin D plays a big role in regulating insulin levels. This means vitamin D plays a major role in how much energy you have.
What’s one of the best sources of vitamin D? The sun! That’s the most efficient and inexpensive way to ensure that you get the vitamin D your body requires. When you take a few minutes each day to sit out and relax on the patio or porch, you are helping your body feel more energy!
Limits the Effects of Aging
Remember how spending time outside improved the sleep quality most significantly for people over the age of 65? It turns out sleep quality is not the only benefit spending time outdoors has on the aging process.
A study in The Journals of Gerontology found that older adults who spend some of their time outdoors “were less functionally impaired, more socially active, and scored less depressed than elders going outdoors less often.” In other words, spending time outside of the house improved the overall quality of life in elderly people.
There you have it — simply spending a little bit of time outside each day can even help you age more gracefully.
Enjoy Your Porch or Patio Year-Round With an Enclosure
After recognizing all of the benefits you experience when you spend time on the porch, don’t you want to be out there all the time? Why let rain or snow stop you from enjoying the outdoors?
Porch enclosures surround porches with screened-in walls and have a roof. They allow you to relish in the fresh air and sunlight while protecting against rain and bugs.
Here at American Windows Products, we have an extensive collection of high-quality Gorrell porch and patio enclosures. If you’re ready to start enjoying your porch or patio 365 days a year, contact us today and we can set up a free consultation.