Doctor’s Orders: Get Outside for Improved Health

Getting outside, even or especially in winter, is one of the simplest ways to boost your health.

When days are shorter and colder, it’s tempting to stay indoors — but winter may be when time outside matters most. Whether just trying to ward off a cold in the near term, or reduce chances of autism, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinsons in the future – getting a healthy dose of winter sun is just what Dr. Nat Mann ordered. 

Just 20–30 minutes outdoors, even on a cool, sunny day, can:

• Lift mood and reduce stress by lowering cortisol and increasing serotonin

• Support vitamin D production, critical for bone & muscle health, immune function, and energy

• Improve sleep by helping reset your circadian rhythm

• Sharpen focus and memory, especially after time spent in green spaces

• Encourage movement, which supports heart health and joint mobility

Sunlight is often brighter and less intense in winter, making it easier to get the benefits without heat stress or sunburn. And nature doesn’t need to be dramatic—a walk on the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail, through a nearby forest, or in a neighborhood park counts.

In a season when many people feel tired, isolated, or low, nature offers a free, accessible prescription:

Step outside, soak up the light, and let your body do the rest.

Sometimes the healthiest place to be is just outdoors, enjoying one of the many parks and trails that help make Greenville County one of the nation’s most desirable places. "