Living in the Coachella Valley I am lucky to be in an active community with longevity as a goal. There are many places in open spaces to walk, talk, hike, meditate, reflect and enjoy nature.
Parking is easy and the weather is manageable year round.
We have our own desert beauty and many well maintained parks and trails offering benches for sitting all the way up to advanced hiking.
They are safe and well traveled. So take yourself, a friend or a group and get out into nature in the desert.
I hope everyone takes the time to look through all of the information included in this month's P.E.P. Talk and use it to help take better care of you!

I look forward to hearing from you. - Erin

The Benefits of Spending Time in Nature

In the modern, highly digital world, it can be easy to feel disconnected from the natural world, particularly if you live in a city. For many of us, the time we spend outside is limited to the short walk from the car to the supermarket, or the trip to the mailbox.

Nature has a lot to offer. Multiple studies have shown the significant benefits of spending time outside, and they're definitely enough to warrant turning your working lunch into a quick stroll, or changing your weekend plans.

Here, we'll outline a few of the perks you'll have to look forward to:

Nature Improves Your Physical Health

The health benefits of nature is a pretty astonishing list. Researchers have linked exposure to the outdoors with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and asthma hospitalizations. Scientists are still figuring out which mechanisms are responsible for these positive effects, but it's possible that they have something to do with the enhanced immune function and vitamin D production that are also associated with time spent outdoors.

Spending time outside is also really, really good for your brain. Exposure to nature has been proven to lead to better cognitive function in a number of studies. It's also been shown to decrease stress and boost happiness, both of which are crucial for maintaining good mental health and fighting depression and anxiety. One study showed a significantly lower risk of psychiatric disorders (such as depression, mood disorders, and schizophrenia) in children who grew up with more access to nature.

Nature Promotes Healthier Lifestyles

Many outdoor activities require physical activity, which is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Even low-intensity exercise like walking is a great way to burn calories and improve sleep quality. Nature also provides ideal opportunities to socialize with friends and connect with your community, which are hugely beneficial for your well-being.

How Much Time in Nature Is Enough?

According to one study published in 2019, spending two hours a week in nature is correlated with significant increases in health and well-being. Divided up, that comes out to just under half an hour each day.

However, while two hours is the magic number at which benefits of spending time outside seem to peak, it's not an all-or-nothing equation. In many studies, even indirect exposure to nature (such as being near a window that had a view of trees) was shown to have a positive impact. So if two hours isn't realistic for your lifestyle, even working toward smaller doses may still be worth the effort.

If you're in need of a nature boost, consider taking a long walk around the beautiful Wild West Wash in Sky Valley or around the park at Caliente Springs and be sure to stop by the cactus garden outside the main entrance.

Here are a few quick and inexpensive ideas to immediately bring nature closer to you:

Bird feeders and bird baths
Grow a flower or vegetable garden
Add a bouquet of flowers to your dining room table
Artwork to hang or display
Place a chair near a window
Open a door or a window to let fresh air in
Visit a farmers market
Display your fruits and vegetables as they ripen
Have plants throughout your house
Grow an indoor herb garden
Listen to recordings of the rain, ocean, forest, streams, or waterfalls instead of manmade music

Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats (see Tip)
1 cup natural peanut butter or other nut butter
½ cup honey
¼ cup mini chocolate chips
¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Tip: People with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should use oats that are labeled "gluten-free," as oats are often cross-contaminated with wheat and barley.

Directions
Combine oats, nut butter, honey, chocolate chips and coconut in a medium bowl; stir well. Roll the mixture into balls 1" sized ball.
These are no bake snacks. Enjoy!

Locals Only
Welcome to the Coachella Valley's locals only recommendations for you. This is a list of local businesses, excursions and happenings throughout the desert. They can be experienced as a single event or group them together to customize your own adventures and day trips.

Please visit each website to confirm the days and hours of each location.

Cabot's Pueblo Museum
Local Tip: Make sure to get tickets in advance if you want the guided tour. Lots of history, artwork and artifacts in this historic house museum. Highly recommended.