Nature As A Resource

 

Spending time out in nature is really good for our physical and emotional health. Our surroundings have a powerful effect on our wellbeing.  We just have to recall the tension we feel in our bodies when we are driving in heavy traffic as opposed to the relaxation we feel when walking in a park, forest or by the sea.

 

The lights, sounds, and colours of the environment in which we live and work can have a profound impact on our physical and emotional health, causing stress, fatigue and low mood. To combat these effects on our nervous system, step outside and spend time in natural environments or just take a few moments to look outside into the garden.

 

Spending time in nature has been found to help with anxiety and depression. Doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or spending time around animals can have lots of positive effects on our overall wellbeing. Spending time with nature can improve our mood, reduce feelings of stress or anger and induce feelings of relaxation, ​improve our physical health, resource us and connect us with nature/others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ways Of Doing It Include:

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• growing or picking food - If you don't have access to a garden/community garden/allotment, you could plant salad leaves or herbs in a window box or plant pot

• bringing nature inside e.g. by collecting stones from sea shore, buy flowers or potted plants

• do activities outdoors e.g. walking/running/outdoor yoga/Tai Chi/Sea Swimming

• help the environment by getting involved in a local rubbish collection/tea planting project etc

• connect with animals by volunteering at a local animal rescue or offering to walk someones dog

• Listen to natural sounds, like recordings or apps that play birdsong, ocean waves or rainfall.

• Take a walk or go for a picnic in green space, such as a local park.

• Take up bird watching or star gazing

• Go camping or take up outdoor photography

• Sit in the garden/park and read/listen to music

• See if there is a local hill walking group and go for long walks with others​

• Plant wildflower seeds to help nurture butterflies and bees 

• Visit the Botanic Gardens or any public gardens in your area

• Hang a bird feeder outside to encourage little birds nearby

 

To find out more about this, here are some additional links:

 

http://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/the-restorative-power-of-nature

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709294/