Good morning, everyone! As promised, I am back today to talk research and what it means for our lives right now! There are so many topics to share/discuss, and It was challenging to decide where to start. So I decided to begin with one of my all time favorite topics…spending time in/with nature!
To be brief, I will share the references by request, so just reach out if you want more info on the research specifics.
Here we go!
There is a plethora of research, old and new, that makes clear how important time in nature is for our mental health. Researchers have even looked at the different types of nature exposure, to see if different types of nature have unique contributions to our well being. Turns out they do, to some degree. The conclusion is, that nature helps us:
reduce the perception of stress
it elevates our mood
it increases our sense of hope and optimism
it heightens our creativity and problem-solving abilities
and reminds us that some of our problems are not as huge as we may think.
Standing outside in the huge expanse nature can provide reminds us there is a huge world out there and some of our problems are small when situated in the huge world. Now, not all of our problems are small! Right now, we have some pretty HUGE problems we are all facing (or denying, or ignoring, but they are still there).
So, how do we use this research to help us deal with our current load of huge problems?
I mentioned earlier that research has looked at variations in the types of nature and how they contribute uniquely to our well-being. It turns out, the difference is mostly about the strength of their impact, but also on the types of mood improvement. Green space, where this is a lot green foliage like trees, helps us feel less stress/anxiety, more hopeful, greater vitality, and perspective. Blue space, where there is water, also reduces stress/anxiety, helps us gain perspective about the size or severity of our problems, helps us feel more hopeful, and calm or serene.
Exercising in nature amplifies the effects, and also seems to make exercising more enjoyable, and we tend to feel more energized and a greater sense of vitality when we exercise outdoors, vs. indoors.
Gentle walks in forested areas has been found to be incredibly calming. A Japanese tradition called shinrin yoku, loosely translated to “forest bathing”, has been reported to provide incredible wellness benefits. To practice this, you leave your phone at home or in the car, along with your to do list, and meander through a heavily wooded area while you focus on the leaves, trees, branches, and sounds. No talking, no goal, just bathe in the forest’s delights.
So, maybe you are thinking this is great, but with all the physical distancing, getting out in nature is tough! No doubt, this can be true. If you don’t have nature right outside your door, getting TO nature can be tricky or impossible right now. I am not encouraging you to travel to the beach or to a major park (please don’t, if it is busy). We all need to do our VERY difficult part to get this virus under control, and the best thing we can do is avoid other people and mask up. So.... tips…
If there is a park, forest, or green or blue space nearby, go visit when others are less likely to be there.. early in the morning, or during the day during the week, if you can (and always mask up).
Go out when it is raining (not storming)! Few people do, so it’s likely to be quiet! If not...
Bring nature inside...order some plants or seeds, and some flower pots online, or pick up curbside from a local greenhouse, and fill a space at home with some nature.
Looking at photos of nature also helps, although the effect is not as strong as actually being in nature. So, hang some pictures, or draw some (that won’t be me, I cannot draw a recognizable stick figure). Fill your home with pictures of nature. Make your home screen on your devices a nature picture, and look at it regularly.
Watch nature shows. This may seem weird, and you are entering my private world here, but I have watched nature shows like “Sunrise Earth” on Amazon Prime, and “The Dark: Nature’s Nighttime World”, on YouTube, and I think it is on Netflix. I also watch documentaries or autobiographies of people hiking in cool places around the world.
So, in summary, during these very stressful times, we can help ourselves manage this stress by exposing ourselves to nature. If you can get outside in nature, that is great! If not, fill your living and working space with nature- plants, and pictures of nature, and watch nature shows.
Be safe!!!!!
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