Snow, cold temperatures, and wind chills may make you feel like staying inside. However, spending time outside is good for your health in many ways.

Whether you are walking on a street with trees in the boulevard or visiting a park, exposure to nature is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Being outside can help your mood, vision, short-term memory, and reduce your risk of diseases such as diabetes.

This time of year, being prepared for the weather will improve your outdoor experience. I have been surprised at the number of people I see along the paths who are not dressed for the cold temperatures. So, here are some tips. I hope they help you have more fun outside the rest of this winter.

Check the temperature and wind chill before you go out. Over time, you can learn what combination of outdoor gear is best for a given temperature range.

Most people do not have a huge, expedition-type parka. To improve the performance of your winter coat, add a layer. Try a wool sweater or fleece under your jacket or a windbreaker over it. Don’t forget your legs. Cotton and regular polyester are not very warm. Long underwear or rain pants with your regular pants will help keep you comfortable. Winter weight running pants are another option. They can be worn alone when it’s not too cold and paired with long underwear when the temperatures drop.

Invest in well-insulated gloves or mittens or use liner gloves. Hand warmers are another nice thing to have if you are going to be outside for a long time or are sensitive to cold.

Accessorize with earmuffs or a hat, and a scarf. If you start to feel too warm, it’s easy to adjust by loosening your scarf or removing liner gloves.

Keep your feet warm with wool socks or liner socks. Make sure you have some room in your shoe - if the sock and shoe combo is too tight, your feet will likely feel colder.

Finally, I strongly recommend traction cleats that fit on your shoe when conditions are icy. Some brands available locally in stores include LLBean, Stabil, and Yak Trax or check online.