Back in the days, people were mostly outdoors doing their usual chores, while children play with the other kids or their pet animals outside the house until the sun has set down. However, these all changed with the advent of technology.
Kids and teenagers eventually moved indoors and spent their time playing video games, watching their favorite TV shows on their new flat screen, or tinkering with their mobile phones. Gone are the days when children come home sweaty and dirty from playing outdoors with their neighbors or friends.
Likewise, adults also have already been consumed with the convenience of technology. Even the things they can usually buy at a retail store can now be bought at a touch of a button and delivered straight to your home.
The Dilemma of Staying Indoors
Photo by Ostap Senyuk / Unsplash
On the contrary, it’s not completely bad to stay indoors for long periods of time. After all, there’s still no place like home. In addition, having a warm and cozy home is among the most basic necessity a person can have. However, staying indoors can be both a blessing and a curse.
For one, it’s just logical to stay indoors especially when there are heavy rains or snowfall outside, so as to provide protection from getting wet and cold due to the weather. On the other hand, it’s also logical to enjoy the warmth of the sun during the summer season. Still, some people choose to be cooped up in their homes for some reason.
Effects of Staying Indoors all the Time
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Having said those, here are some reasons why staying indoors all the time can actually do more harm than good:
1. Risk of Obesity
According to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), obesity among children jumped “from 7 percent in 1980, to 18.8 percent in 2004.” Among major contributor to the significant increase is due to the lack of physical activity, a.k.a outdoor play. Speaking of play, it is an important component of a child’s learning and development.
However, due to technology, “play” has become a different concept than it was before. For one, playing “tag” outside is now replaced with “playing” video games. In addition, a person living a sedentary lifestyle can be at high risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
2. Lack of Vitamin D
In relation to health, staying indoors all the time means less exposure to natural light coming from the sun. The sun’s warmth can help improve mood as well as it can help our bodies produce vitamin D that helps regulate our immune system. It also helps our internal body clock working, which is crucial in regulating our appetite, sleep, and energy levels. On the other hand, electric lighting can actually harm our bodies because it can disrupt our circadian rhythm.
3. Increases Risk of Depression
According to NWF, being outdoors helps children lower their stress levels, control their temperament, and improve their cognitive skills. This explains why we feel relaxed and awe-inspired when we see the nature around us. On the other hand, staying cooped up in the four corners of our bedroom can bring about negative thoughts which can lead to depression.
4. Tendency to Forget Proper Hygiene
Because we are almost always indoors, we tend not to give a care about how we look and smell especially when we’re busy doing chores. However, not caring about personal hygiene can lead to bacteria accumulation not only in our bodies but also in the air inside the house.
5. Lack of Social Skills
Staying indoors all the time can also affect our social skills. We won’t be able to get used to mingling with other people and know more about them, which is supposedly a good thing.
6. Lack of Appreciation to the World
People who mostly spend their time indoors create a negative impression of the world around them. They won’t also have a chance to appreciate the world beyond the four corners of their room. In effect, they would tend to care less about the environment and other people.
It’s nice to stay inside your cozy home at times. Likewise, technology is not all that bad either. What’s not healthy anymore is that you disconnect with the world outside and only focused on your own little world, and not be able to experience the true meaning of life beyond the walls of your room.
