As a child, you often may have been told that fresh air is good for you. It still is! In fact, you might be surprised just how many benefits senior outdoor activities can provide, especially for residents of St. Mark Village, who benefit from having so many things to do in Palm Harbor.
How senior outdoor activities can boost your health
Most people would agree that being in nature makes them feel better. But it’s important to also understand how denying yourself the benefits of senior outdoor activities could negatively affect your health.
Take stress, for example. Feeling stressed can cause a person’s immune system to suffer. According to Cleveland Clinic, chronic stress causes wear and tear on your body. Being indoors too much, without ever getting outside for fresh air and sunshine, can also leave you feeling exhausted and frustrated. It can make your physical pain feel worse. Your blood pressure might be elevated; your stomach could start giving you problems.
Bottom line, too much stress is bad for you.
However, being outside in nature can help wash that stress away, by reducing blood pressure, muscle tension, and pulse rate—all within minutes.
Related: Sunshine and Seniors: Why Getting Outdoors Matters
In addition, UC Davis Health reports these health effects of senior outdoor activities:
- People who live near parks and green spaces have less mental distress, are more physically active, and have longer life spans.
- Exposure to nature may decrease death from chronic disease.
- When people exercise outdoors, they do so for longer periods of time and at greater intensities.
And these positive health effects are enhanced when green space includes water
That’s great news for residents of St. Mark Village, who enjoy proximity to beautiful beaches as well as several parks and nature reserves that provide easy access to the water.
For example, Courtney Campbell Causeway Scenic Highway and Trail (beaches, a boat launch, vistas, and fishing opportunities), and Honeymoon Island State Park (four miles of stunning beaches, mangrove swamps, tidal flats and more). These are only two of the many nearby water-related opportunities for senior outdoor activities.
Related: Palm Harbor Parks—And Why Connecting with Nature Benefits Seniors
Other benefits of connecting with nature
Studies have shown that our minds and bodies relax in a natural setting. This increases feelings of pleasure and can help us concentrate and focus more effectively.
Overall, having easy access to the outdoors can help provide a sense of belonging and overall wellbeing. This in turn can help reduce the negative effects of feeling lonely, which is good to know considering the negative impact loneliness and isolation have on senior health. In fact, even just listening to nature’s sounds or watching a documentary on a natural experience can produce the same results.
The Mental Health Foundation reports that people who are more connected to nature are happier and more likely to consider their lives worthwhile. Being in touch with nature can offer a sense of calm and joy, inspire creativity, and help concentration.
It all adds up to choosing a retirement location that invites you to get the benefits of nature as often as you can, by offering a plethora of senior outdoor activities. That’s why so many seniors choose Palm Harbor, Florida, home to St. Mark Village.
Related: Palm Harbor: The Tampa Bay Town That’s Great for Seniors
So many things to do in Palm Harbor.
- Golfing at Copperhead Golf Course. Golf is a very popular pastime in Palm Harbor, and choices abound. One particularly beautiful course is the Copperhead Golf Course at Innisbrook Golf Resort. This 7,209-yard course is ranked as the PGA Tour’s 7th toughest course, blending beauty with challenge. Even if your game is rusty, this is just one of the many things to do in Palm Harbor that connect you with nature!
- Birdwatching. Just about anywhere you go in the Palm Harbor area offers a possibility for spotting a wide array of birds. An excellent suggestion is the Largo Central Park Nature Preserve, home to more than 130 species of birds, with an observation tower, trail and a kayak/canoe route.
- Bicycling. Get away from traffic and get some exercise by hopping on your bike and exploring popular routes around Palm Harbor.
- Visiting gardens. As you can imagine, there are several beautiful gardens in the Palm Harbor area that are perfect for a natural respite. The Florida Botanical Gardens offer 150 acres of gardens, native habitats and beautiful spaces for relaxation and meditation.
And, if you are a resident of St. Mark Village, our lovely garden makes for a wonderful resting spot for conversation with a friend or a picnic with family. You can put your green thumb to use as well!
No matter what your interest, connecting with nature makes it even better
Whether you love to explore trails, walk the beach, spend time in a garden, play a round of golf at Copperhead Golf course, or just stand outside and breathe in the air, you’ll find so many things to do in Palm Harbor—and at St. Mark Village!
Here, we offer a retirement choice that feels like a continuous vacation, with an exceptional lifestyle, beautiful residences, exceptional amenities, and the peace of mind of seamless access to future care options. We’d love to tell you more.
Take our Lifestyle Quiz to help discover what matters most to you in senior living, or contact us. We’d love to hear from you and tell you more about our community, offering seamless access to future health care options.
