In today’s modern world, we find ourselves inundated with updates, advertisements, and breaking news at all hours of the day. On top of that, an unprecedented trend of people moving to urban areas is furthering our isolation from nature.
While being surrounded by sidewalks and screens is ideal for efficiency and keeping up with the latest in our social circles, it can also be very draining. Something important is missing, but not out of reach: the great outdoors and its therapeutic properties.
Reconnect and Recalibrate
Sometimes we need a reminder of how beautiful and vast the world is outside of our smartphones. With so much going on at all times, it’s become easier than ever to forget all that the great outdoors has to offer.
In recent years, numerous studies have been published that suggest immersing ourselves in nature yields countless benefits for mental health.
Let’s take a look at some of the key benefits:
- Reduces Stress and Elevates Mood
Being amongst nature has been proven to lower levels of cortisol, the primary hormone associated with stress. Spending time in green spaces also increases endorphins and dopamine, leading to a happier mood.
- Alleviates Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety
A study from Stanford University found that negative thought patterns decrease when walking amongst nature more so than in an urban setting. But there’s good news for city dwellers – even being amongst small patches of greenery in an urban area such as grass, trees, or a garden can yield notable benefits!
- Improves Cognitive Functioning
Focus and working memory are improved when spending time in nature. This includes the part of our short-term memory that allows us to keep track of multiple tasks and process information all at once.
Researchers from the University of Chicago found that children at schools near green spaces experience boosts in cognitive development compared to others. Similarly, adults living in public housing near green spaces in cities demonstrate better cognitive functioning across a number of skill sets.
- Improves Quality of Sleep
Aside from helping to ease tension and stress, which leads to better sleep at the end of the day, spending time outside in the sunlight also helps to regulate your circadian rhythm. This is your internal clock that determines when you generally wake and fall asleep each day. Exposing your eyes to natural sunlight in the daytime and true darkness in the night, as our ancestors did, improves sleep quality significantly.
- Enhances Social Connections
Time spent in nature has been proven to enhance our connection with those around us and the world at large. Individuals with trees in their surrounding area tend to know more people and report stronger feelings of unity with their neighbors.
When participants in a study viewed scenes of nature, parts of the brain associated with empathy were activated, while areas associated with anxiety and fear were activated when viewing city scenes.
Small Changes, Big Results
There’s no better time than now to introduce some more natural scenery into our lives. Working in more time for nature doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your schedule – minor adjustments can go a long way.
Whether you decide to take a scenic walk to work some days of the week, bring your family on a hike, go for a stroll on the beach or along a river, or even have a picnic in your backyard, you’ll be sure to reap the benefits.
Even sitting on a bench in a small park to watch the birds and squirrels can yield significant results for your mental well-being. These seemingly insignificant experiences help us to take a step back and have a broader view of the many forms of life around us. It serves as a reminder that we’re connected to something larger than what modern life often leads us to believe.
We hope you enjoy it out there!
Our friendly and compassionate mental health experts at Families, Inc are here to help. Give us a call or visit us at one of our 11 local clinics in Arkansas. Together, we can help you enjoy a healthier, happier life.
