A daily dose of VITAMIN ‘N’
FEEL BETTER IN AN INSTANT BY INJECTING SOME NATURE INTO YOUR DAY
Being outdoors makes you feel good, but have you ever wondered why? Science has proven that a daily dose of sunlight produces beta endorphins that are known to boost immunity, relieve pain, promote relaxation and increase an overall sense of wellbeing. So far more than just being pleasant, time spent outdoors can be considered a form of natural therapy.
THE POWER OF SMELL
Do you ever feel like just the smell of the Aussie bush makes you feel relaxed as soon as it wafts through your car window? You’re not wrong. More than just a pleasant fragrance, eucalyptus oil has stress relieving benefits as well as an antibacterial effect on the respiratory system. A study published in BMC Immunology says eucalyptus oil may even help stimulate the immune system. To get the maximum benefit, walk outside for 40 minutes three times a week and you’ll enhance the connectivity of your brain circuits and combat the decline of ageing.
GET CREATIVE
Looking for some creative inspo? Turns out, a stroll in the great outdoors can help stimulate your creative juices. A Stanford University study showed that walking boosts creativity by up to 60 per cent. Take it from bestselling author JK Rowling, who said “Nothing like a night time stroll to give you ideas.” Worked for her.
NEGATIVE IONS
Home appliances and exhaust fumes produce something called positive ions. Breathe in too many of these chemical compounds and you could find yourself nursing a headache. Fortunately, Mother Nature has a simple remedy. Take a walk in a place where negative ions are in abundance. You’ll find the highest concentrations at the base of waterfalls, near the ocean and at 4am in the morning. Humidity increases negative ions but rainfall brings them down so heading to the beach on a clear day will up your ion intake and hopefully dissolve that headache.
MORNING LIGHT
The reduction of natural light during autumn and winter is known to have a depressive effect on some people, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). One of the best treatments for SAD is to get outdoors – even if it’s overcast. A Swiss study showed that early morning light reaches 1000 lux (a measure of illumination) and remains above that level for up to six hours even on rainy and overcast days. Artificial lamps used to treat SAD produce 50-500 lux. So, regardless of whether you’re feeling low, getting outside can help.
SHINRIN-YOKU
Two Japanese words you should know:
Shinrin-Yoku, also called Forest Bathing. Studies show that people who spent two hours ‘forest bathing’ (spending quiet time in densely natural surroundings) had a reduction in stress and pulse rate and lower blood pressure. You could assume that practising the art of being in nature – sans phone – might also help you find your Ikigai (reason for being).
GET OUT OF TOWN
A study in Breathe magazine says people living within 50-100 metres of a busy road are exposed to the highest levels of pollutants, and that smog levels are highest in the early evening during summer. So, if you live in the inner city and want to breathe easy, it makes sense to leave every now and then. Clear your lungs at one of Australia’s National Parks (see below) to get away from car fumes and smell the fresh eucalypt.