NATURE — WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

As a modern society, we have experienced incredible advancements in our daily lives. Many of the advancements we enjoy today are nothing if not miraculous, and it’s not hard to see how we are better off and happier for our contemporary lifestyles. However, not all of these changes come without a cost. For example, according to a recent study by the National Academy of Sciences, the average person has experienced a 25% reduction in “nature-based recreation” over the last 50 years. This can have significant impacts on our short-term mental and physical health, which can in turn have serious effects on our quality of life in the long-run. But the good news is that with a few simple hacks (which you’ll be reading about within the next five minutes), you can negate these ill-effects and greatly increase your daily sense of peacefulness.

YOU’RE NOT CRAZY, YOU’RE JUST HUMAN.

We have long winters where I come from. This isn’t just your regular three months off-and-on, snowy, crisp-aired, stock-photography weather that makes you want to snuggle up in a sweater and drink cocoa. I could handle that.

The Farmers Almanac says that the winter season starts December 21st and goes to march 20th. I am not exactly sure where that farmer lives, but around here our winters go from October to May; the temperature regularly bottoms out at -20°F and rarely (if ever) goes above 30°F.

Sure, that first snow is lovely, but for me it leaves a pit in my stomach — almost as if I just found myself stranded on a desert island — because I know what is to come.

I don’t do well inside for months on end, and I loathe being cold. My body looks forward to that first warm day as winter wanes, when I can go outside and feel the sun. This is not a want, mind you — it’s a need. If you’re nodding your head in agreement, you’ve no doubt had the same yearning. But even if you have a higher tolerance for being continually cooped up, you might be missing out on the benefits that come with immersing yourself in nature every now and again.

BUT WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

Countless studies exploring the effect of nature on health have been performed, and the results are striking. Whether it’s a boost in vitamin D from a little sunlight or the chance to improve lung health from a dose of fresh air, the combination of “all things nature” has measurable, positive effects. And there are dozens or more measured outcomes, too.

We’ve all heard the term ‘cabin fever’, and I can tell you it is a real thing. But there’s something about just getting outside or enjoying nature that helps so much with my personal overall wellness.

And Dr. Daphne Miller agrees with me. A professor of family and community medicine, Dr. Miller calls the all-too-common ailments of hypertension, anxiety, depression, and diabetes “the diseases of indoor living“.

Many other studies have proven that being outside helps in a wide range of areas including improved attention spans, emotional stability, empathy, love, and even your immune system. Spending time in nature has even been shown as a powerful way to reduce stress.  The Tokyo’s Nippon medical School found that men and women who spent just a few hours in the woods over the span of two days had an increase in virus- and tumor-fighting white blood cells. The boost even lasted at least seven days after they returned from their visit to the woods. This is incredible!

Bonus! You can still reap many of the benefits of spending time in nature even if you can’t get outside today. According to a study in the Korean Journal of Radiology, pictures of scenic, natural landscapes activate the same area of the brain that get activated when someone remembers a happy memory.

MY PERSONAL TAKEAWAY

Whether it’s a long, cold winter or just a couple mid-summer days working indoors, it doesn’t take long for the cravings for the outdoors to creep up on me. Working in the garden, going for a walk, or just sitting outside and meditating — I’ve learned that being outside (or at minimum finding some calming videos or sounds of nature) on a regular basis is a pre-requisite for my well-being.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO ABOUT IT

Get out, go for a walk, enjoy nature, meditate, and strengthen you body and mind! Do it today! But what if a short love-affair with nature is incompatible with your schedule or location? No need to get blue about it. Pull up some outdoor pictures on your phone or play nature sounds in your office and relax as your reconnection with nature elevates your mind and calms your body. But don’t take our word for it. Give it a try now and see for yourself!

SEE STUNNING
VIEWS OF EARTH
FROM THE COMFORT
OF YOUR COUCH.

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WHO WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BLOG POST TO?

We all know someone that’s stressing out a little (or a lot). But how often do we take stock of our emotional state and identify our own need to step away, take a breath, and re-center ourselves? If you’re a regular meditator, an avid outdoorsman or woman, or one who enjoys abundant moments alone in your own thoughts, then this post probably isn’t going to be an epiphany. However, if you find yourself regularly feeling the effects of stress or overwhelm, then you’re bound to benefit from adding some nature to your day. And if you know someone who could make time to consciously seek peacefulness in their life, then remember to share this post with them!