I think most of us instinctively know that spending time in, and interacting with, nature is good for us. We feel calmer, happier and more grounded somehow. It’s not particularly surprising then that more and more studies are confirming this. Spending time in nature is healing and restorative and, more specifically, it increases wellbeing; helps alleviate stress, anxiety and depression; promotes creativity; assists with recovery from mental fatigue; helps restore attention; boosts the brain’s ability to think; and stimulates our senses.
Scientists no longer assume that we have only five senses but that we have as many as 10 to 30! With most of us spending the majority of our time glued to a screen of one kind or another, we have a tendency to under utilise, if not shut down, many of our senses. Spending time in nature can literally bring us back to our senses! Not only does consciously engaging our senses heighten our experience of the world, it helps calm our minds and relax the body. And what better place to do this than in nature?
It can, however, at times, feel difficult to spend as much time in nature as we might like. This is particularly so if you live in a city or your daily commitments keep you mostly indoors. There are, however, a number of simple things you can do to inject a daily dose of nature into your life regardless of how busy you are:
1. Place a plant (or two!) on your desk or in your office;
2. Walk, rather than drive, whenever possible and consciously choose routes that take you through parkland instead of around it, or along a leafy backstreet rather than a busy main road. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find on your doorstep (this is how I discovered the magnificent stretch of the Yarra River I am so incredibly fortunate to have nearby);
3. If you don’t already spend time gardening you might like to experiment with a few simple pot plants and make a ritual of regularly enjoying a cup of tea in their company;
4. Make the effort to step away from your desk at lunchtime. See if you can find a patch of grass or a park bench on which to enjoy your lunch (especially while the weather is still warm);
5. Choose an inspiring image of nature as the background on your computer. You might enjoy using Momentum which displays a different inspirational image and quote each day whenever you open a new tab in your internet browser. Or you might enjoy following nature photographers on social media. Some of my favourites include Chris Burkard, Tim Kemple, Dan Patitucci, Nicole Hunziker and Jacob Moon.* There are some truly stunning images being posted all the time!
*I realise this last suggestion involves additional screen time but everything in moderation right?
You might think it unlikely that implementing suggestions as simple as these would have any significant benefits but they do! One of the first studies to demonstrate this was a pioneering study published in the American Science journal in 1984 which showed that patients recovered from surgery faster and with fewer complaints when they simply looked out at greenery as opposed to a brick wall!
Why not experiment and see if making a conscious effort to enjoy a daily dose of nature – no matter how seemingly insignificant – makes a difference to your wellbeing?
