395. Watching sunrises and sunsets boosts your health
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Numerous studies have shown the health benefits of spending time outdoors. But a new study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology suggests that watching sunrises or sunsets will improve your mood, and your mental health. Researchers at the University of Exeter found that participants who viewed not only sunsets in the evening or sunrises in the morning, but also rainbows, thunderstorms, and starry or moonlit skies, experienced increased perceptions of natural beauty and feelings of awe. The researchers believe that these increased feelings of awe sparked by these moments of outdoor beauty improve mood, enhance positive social behavior, and increase positive emotions.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
