A long time ago a doctor in Greece believed in nature’s healing potential. He was even bold enough to say “nature is the best physician”. He is none other than the most famous physician of all time- Hippocrates. Years later, the European Centre for Environment and Human health led a study where it was observed that people who spent at least two hours a week in local parks, woodlands, beaches and other natural settings were more likely to report good health and higher psychological well-being than those who didn’t. It even showed that communities living near green spaces had lower incidence of asthma, diabetes, obesity, myopia, ADHD and cardiovascular disorders.
A dose of nature also goes a long way in improving one’s mental health. Here are a few ways how:- 1. Stress Reduction: Spending time in nature can help reduce stress to a great extent. The physiology behind this is the reduction in blood pressure and amounts of cortisol (the stress hormone). In fact even looking at images of nature or listening to the sounds of birds chirping or waves crashing onto the shore can have a positive impact on our brain activity.
2. Improved Social Interactions Your level of social interaction is directly proportional to your mental well-being. Spending time outdoors provides opportunities to interact with people around you and take part in social activities thus boosting your mental health. 3. Better Sleep Cycle
Did you know that natural light has a significant role in improving sleep? Light affects the production of the hormone (melatonin) which regulates the body's internal clock.
A study done among the working class in Sweden and Brazil at different latitudes with different amounts of sunlight each day, found that less natural light led to poorer sleep which could eventually lead to depression.
4. A break from excess screen time: Being in the presence of nature can even help you live longer. The 2020 Nielsen report says that adults today are spending more than 13 hours a day on screens—
a significant increase from 10 hours a day in 2019. Sadly this just keeps getting worse due to the advent of addictive apps that keep us glued to our screens. According to the American College of Cardiology individuals spending excess amount of time online are associated with a higher risk of death independent of physical activity! Now that's some scary information right? So put down your phones and go for a walk outside! Replace those likes and comments with real life hugs and conversations. (after Covid, duh)
5. Inspires Creativity and Productivity:
Spending time outdoors allows us to experience new things thereby making us creative thinkers. It also restores our depleted attention circuits which could help improve our problem solving abilities by harnessing our highest analytical skills. Nature reduces attention fatigue and improves cognitive function thereby making us more productive.
Nature can do so much for us, let’s also take a moment to think about what we can do for nature. The infographic below lists out 10 ways we can help preserve our environment.
With most cities now being concrete jungles, you can be hard pressed to find green spaces. Take up gardening and embrace nature in your own backyard. Allot some space for greenery in your home and spend atleast an hour watering plants or planting new seeds. You'll be surprised by the results! It will give you a place to reflect and get rid of any stress that you're going through. So let’s take a break from our screens to reconnect with nature and live longer, happier and healthier life.
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