The negative effects of staying indoors
The Indoor Generation is at risk of a variety of health problems, both mental and physical, due to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and lack of exposure to natural sunlight. These include:
Sleep disruption
Sunlight aids in the production of the hormones serotonin and melatonin. Together, these hormones regulate your sleep-wake cycles; serotonin helps you wake up and melatonin helps you to go to sleep. Lack of exposure to sunlight during the day inhibits the production of melatonin, which means you may have difficulty falling asleep.
Weakened immune system
Vitamin D is key to strengthening your immune system. Too much time indoors can weaken your immune system over time, making you more susceptible to infections.
Lethargy
Staying indoors for extended periods can leave you feeling drained and tired.
Anxiety and seasonal depression
You are more susceptible to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression increase when you are inside for extended periods of time.
Lowered vitamin D levels
If you don’t get enough vitamin D, your bones become weaker, particularly among older adults. Additionally, having low vitamin D can make you more susceptible to chronic diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Eye strain
Poor eyesight in adults has been linked to not spending enough time outdoors as children. When you spend a lot of time indoors, you inevitably spend hours in front of a television, work computer, or mobile device, which can lead to eye strain.
