Birdwatching isn’t just exciting and fun, it’s good for you too. You’ll connect with people and nature, and you’ll engage your brain and body as almost nothing else does. This means you’ll see improved mental, physical and emotional health in most birdwatchers as compared to before they started.
Want to get healthy and have fun? Consider taking up birdwatching.
Boosts Mental Health
It’s clear that no matter the age of the individual, research shows that being outside, getting fresh air, and also learning new things improves mental health. If you want to feel better spiritually and emotionally, getting out in nature or learning about nature is the answer.
Connects You with Like-Minded Individuals
Birdwatchers don’t like to talk about much else but birds. That’s a good thing because you can connect with like-minded individuals and talk about the thing you want to know about the most without any interruptions. You won’t have to worry about other things, just your bird knowledge.
Keeps Your Body Moving
Exercise is necessary for good health, especially cardiovascular health. While you don’t run through the woods looking for birds, you may hike and walk a long way. Slow walking and hiking are more comfortable for more people to do and since you do it for long distances, it’ll pay off in the same ways other types of exercise do.
Engages Your Brain
Birdwatching requires that you’re willing to learn new facts. When you focus on learning something totally unique to you, it engages your brain in a new way and will help increase memory and neurological function.
You Connect with Nature
Being in nature is good for every single human being on the planet. Studies show that getting outside every day improves your circadian rhythm, which in turn will improve your sleep quality.
Increases Your Patience
When you birdwatch, you do hike, walk, and so forth, but sometimes you also wait. You may wait and wait for nothing some days. You must be willing to be silent, patient, and have no expectations.
Improves Reflexes
Since you usually only get seconds to see the birds you’re looking for, your reflexes will get faster. Sometimes you’re trying to snap the perfect image. Other times, you’re just trying to get a view in your binoculars. Either way it will require good reflexes, and thankfully with practice you’ll improve.
It’s clear that birdwatching is an activity that will increase your health in so many ways. If you need a spiritual boost, go birdwatching. If you want to exercise, go birdwatching. If you want to learn something, check out a birdwatching and informational book from the library. Birdwatching has everything you could want in terms of an activity almost anyone can do and benefit from.
