by Jethro Wegener
We’re all stressed. Deadlines, upcoming presentations and dinner with the in-laws – it’s all piling up on us, and the problem we all face is how to deal with it. Research seems to point to the solution being a simple one. Just go outdoors.
Health Benefits
There is a strong body of research which states that direct contact with nature leads to an increase in mental health and physical wellbeing. It’s been known to relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression, lower your blood pressure and decrease your heart rate. Just being outside can lift your mood, help you think positively and calm down, but how?
Well for one, being outdoors helps raise your levels of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate our mood. Scientists at the University of Exeter found that outdoor runners are less anxious and depressed than people who run on a treadmill. They also had higher levels of post-exercise endorphins, the chemical closely associated with the ‘runner’s high’. They concluded that being outside was what did it.
It does wonders for our stress levels too. According to The Huffington Post, just going for a stroll in a park or looking at greenery is enough. There is no clear reason why this is so, although some scientists feel that it is do with our instincts. When we were hunter-gathers, we felt good being in a green space because it meant that there was food and water about. It’s a physical effect as well, since our heart rate lowers and our blood pressure decreases. In Japan they have recognised these effects and established 48 official Forest Therapy trails for what they call shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.
Evidence suggests that nature just makes us happier as well, according to a study featured in the Environmental Science & Technology journal. Researchers compared the mental health of hundreds of people in the UK who moved from an urban setting to a greener one, to those who did the opposite. Those closer to nature proved to be a lot happier over the three-year study period than those living in cities.
While not all of us have the opportunity to live in the great outdoors 24/7, we all have plenty of places to go to get a bit of greenery. With all the health benefits attributed to getting outside, there’s no reason for any of us to spend all day cooped up inside. Taking a walk in a park, around a reservoir or anywhere green will do wonders for your health and mental wellbeing.
