Getting Back To Nature
Look around any indoor public space these days, and you’ll probably see the tops of people’s heads more than their faces. Today we seem to spend more time on our phones, with heads down and thumbs scrolling through posts, or fingers tapping out a response to an unknown recipient, as we keep up with the latest news or technology. But, while technology has its place and serves its own purposes, getting out in nature and reveling in the sunshine adds its own benefits, some of which you may not have thought of, including:
• Improved quality of sleep – did you know that getting out in natural sunlight can reset your internal clock? Simply by getting out in nature you include not just the amount of sleep you get but the quality. A great help to those who work shift work or who are waking up throughout the night.
• Increased attentiveness – with the subtle stimulus of a squirrel scampering by, a tiny flower on a trail, or a deer far away ready to take flight, the sights and sounds of nature sharpen both our observation skills and our minds.
• Time for reflection – we live in a go, go, go world. Being out in nature gives our minds a pause and a much-deserved rest, giving us time to work out problems, or focus in on what is important.
• Mental Health – being out in nature literally can make you happier. As natural beings ourselves researcher, Dr. Miles Richardson, says that simply by performing a daily exercise of noting “3 Good Things in Nature,” anything from a bird song, to a breeze in a tree, subjects who took part in the exercise noted a significant reconnection with nature, which in turn led to significant improvements in
psychological health.
• Increased physical health – whether it’s a simple stroll outside, or a full-out hike, those who prefer the great outdoors to the indoors show a significant increase in physical health.
• Activism – with so many animals habitats being destroyed in the name of progress, getting out and about in nature brings us in touch with many of these animals and makes us more apt to get involved in working to conserve both them and their habitats. It is one thing to read about the plight of the Burrowing Owl, and quite another to see one in the wild and realize how special these tiny birds are.
• Connection – head to any beach or campground and you’ll hear a sound that will be music to your ears. The sound of people connecting, laughing, sharing and making memories together. As the saying goes, “you may not find wifi, but we promise you’ll find a better connection.”
Whether you’re looking to improve your mental, physical or relationship health, getting back to nature will ensure that you improve all three and more.