Nurturing nature
As I sit outside writing this blog post in the sun, I’m listening to the birds as they celebrate the arrival of spring. They are seeking mates, battling for territories, and thrilling at the potential that lies ahead.
I feel this same way too. At the beginning of spring, there is excitement about the coming seasons, the potential for fruit trees to blossom and the blooms that are starting to make their presence felt. There just seems to be hope ahead as we have more light and warmth on the horizon.
No hope, no will
When there is no hope, one loses the will to live. There seems no point. If one cannot change one’s situation and there is no hope of a potentially different future, there is the feeling that there is no reason to carry on.
Viktor Frankl talked about this in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning”. As a prominent Viennese psychiatrist who was incarcerated in Auschwitz, he was able to observe the traits of his fellow prisoners and came to understand that our deepest desire is to have meaning and purpose. Those who comforted others and gave away their last bread, survived the longest. Those who lost all hope suddenly just gave up and lay down to die.
Although we are not experiencing the atrocities of Auschwitz, many of us face our own challenges on a daily basis. Spending time in nature can help to rebalance us and bring a different perspective to light.
The benefits of being in nature
Here’s a breakdown of why it’s so beneficial on many levels.
Sunlight - provides us with a serotonin boost making us feel calm and providing a sense of wellbeing. It resets our circadian rhythm which helps us to sleep. It also provides Vitamin D which is essential for ensuring our bones, teeth and muscles remain healthy. Being behind glass reduces the effectiveness of sunlight so being outdoors is best.
Grounding - eliminates the excess electricity in our bodies and brings us back down to earth. It also reduces inflammation, shifts us to a rest-and-digest state which reduces stress, and also improves blood flow and oxygen delivery. If you are wound up, stressed and anxious, try putting your feet on the ground to bring you back down to earth.
Green - human vision is sensitive to the colour green. In fact we can see more shades of green than any other colour and it is less straining on the eyes compared to other colours. Back in the day, green signalled food and safety, so is it any wonder that it reduces stress levels and brings a sense of wellbeing?
Blue - from the vast expanses of sky and sea, blue is also a beneficial colour for us. It brings a sense of serenity and tranquility, as well as inspiring trust, confidence, and stability. In addition it lowers our blood pressure and reduces our heart rate.
Birdsong - reduces stress, anxiety, and depression while improving mood, mental clarity, and focus. Studies have revealed that birdsong lowers cortisol levels and allows people to unwind whilst also restoring cognitive function and attention after mental fatigue. Participants exposed to birdsong experienced lower levels of paranoia and anxiety compared to those who listened to traffic noise. Another study found that hearing or seeing birds improved mental well-being for up to eight hours. That’s a mighty benefit from such a small creature.
Abundance - there is always abundance in nature. We just need to look around and recognise it to remind ourselves that we have abundance. An abundance of fresh air (for some of us), an abundance of green and blue, of birdsong and flowers. There is an abundance of life all around us, even in the city. Think of the pigeons and the sparrows that have adapted to city life. The blackbirds and thrushes, the spiders and other bugs, the plants that are hardy enough for city environments. In my garden I have an abundance of oranges and daffodils at present, but I’ve also had an abundance of nettles and nightshade in the past!
Timing - nature is so clever, she provides us what we need when we need it. Have you ever wondered why citrus produce their fruit during winter, just when we are needing a good dose of Vitamin C to boost our immune system and prevent colds and flu? Clever nature has come to the rescue, just when we need it most.
Water - living near water can be incredibly beneficial. Studies show coastal residents tend to be happier and have higher levels of emotional well-being. Walking on the beach can be meditative, being close to a waterfall can be awe inspiring, gentle streams can be contemplative. Being near water often clears our mind and allows positivity and creativity to return.
Air - fresh air clears the mind and raises the mood. It has higher levels of oxygen than indoor air, which contains more pollutants. The extra oxygen raises our serotonin, boosting our mood, and also provides more oxygen to the brain, which improves our cognitive function, memory and concentration. Being outdoors and away from mental distractions also allows creativity to surface, and solutions to problems arise more easily.
Wildlife - watching or being in wildlife can provide a sense of awe, excitement and happiness. It can also take us out of our daily worries and allow us to become present in the moment, bringing a state of flow. It can also help to take the focus off oneself and to look at the bigger picture.
Exercise - being in nature often involves some form of movement and that exercise is always good for us. It doesn’t matter whether we are gardening, swimming, or taking the dog for a walk. It’s all movement and that is what our bodies are designed for. It keeps us flexible and mobile, healthy and strong.
When cut off from nature
It’s also interesting to note that those incarcerated in prisons (or dungeons in the old days) are shut off from all this. It has effectively been used as a form of punishment for centuries.
Times are changing though and the benefits of nature being brought into prisons has been explored. Studies have shown that even watching a nature video resulted in maximum-security prisoners feeling calmer, less irritable, and more empathetic than a control group. Plus they committed 26% fewer violent infractions.
Nature based programmes are being used more and more to provide a sense of purpose and wellbeing, helping prisoners to be calmer, less irritable and more empathetic.
More benefits than we realise
Nature nurtures us in so many ways, but we forget just how important it is to our wellbeing, including our outlook on life and our frame of mind.
The sheer amount of information coming our way every day can cause overwhelm and a sense of doom for some. Getting out in nature can reset that and bring in hope, positivity, awe, and inspiration.
I hope understanding the benefits of being outside, even for a small part of your day, will encourage you to make this part of your daily routine, allowing you to invest in your long term health and wellbeing.
Kàren
