There’s counseling, pills, and indoor facilities, yet there are trees, grains of sand and the great outdoors too. Nature has ways to entertain as well as heal. Some people are prescribed drugs to alleviate symptoms or eradicate an illness. Others are advised to find solace and solutions in the outdoors. However, it’s not just theoretical advice; science says you should get outside.
“Nature has ways
to entertain as
well as heal. “
Improved Short-Term Memory
Who wouldn’t like to retain more information for opportune use? Some observed an improvement in short term memory when taking a walk through the woods versus those who waltzed along busy cityscapes. It may be that the woods and quiet atmosphere provide our brains with the peace it needs to better process and store information.
Sudden Jolts
Mental fatigue is a real thing and people feel mentally sluggish at 3 pm just as easily as any other time of day or night. However, some show signs of improvement when exposed to nature. Subjects showed sudden jolts of energy due to mere exposure nature photos. While coffee and energy drinks are packed with caffeine to provide a midday pep, maybe you just need to take a step outside.
Less Stress
Would you take action if you could reduce the amount of stress in your life? Just open the front door and you’ve achieved it. It seems that being in the great outdoors lowers feelings of anxiety and levels of stress. There’s a lot more to appreciate than worry about in nature. Unless you’re trying to catch a breath of fresh air in an alligator alley or lion’s den, it’s likely safe to head to your nearest park or forest setting to gain perspective while getting rid of stress.
Reduced Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s way of reacting to threat and pathogens. However, too much inflammation leads to difficulties, cancer being a worst case. But spending time in the outdoors helps reduce body inflammation. Being at peace and feeling good tells the body there is no reason to prepare for a threat. Coincidentally, ‘retreats’ involve breaks from life’s monotony and a return to the wilderness.
Better Concentration
The mind is like a muscle in that it can be trained to perform better. However, distraction is kind of like eating too many cheeseburgers rather than opting for salads on some days. Our lives are filled with distractions taking the shape of texts, Facebook alerts, Instagram postings, and more. Those who spend more time in nature and less time influenced by man-made distractions show signs of improved concentration. What could you use better concentration for? Getting a raise, improving your GPA, making money through a side hustle, etc. You see the big picture now.
Imaginative Thoughts
Outside of the box thinking is associated with out of the house experiences. There’s a reason why poets dedicate volumes to the outdoors. It serves as a muse, a source of inspiration for creativity. Greater creativity can lead to a better diet, improved mode of exercise, methods of making more money in less time, etc. You don’t need Walden Pond. All you need is some space outdoors and garden furniture to relax. Need ideas? Browse at Bridgman.co.uk.
Anti-Cancer
There may be a connection between those escaping and beating cancer and time spent among the outdoors. The body produces anti-cancer proteins, and spending time in nature can help stimulate production. Being outside, particularly in forests, can have a life-saving consequence. Other factors contribute to the association, yet research involving more concrete data, like measuring blood pressure, is convincing.
Better Regulation
The body is a complicated network of systems and balance. It requires ongoing regulation. It seems like the outdoors serves as a way of promoting the body’s immune system. Getting back to man-made distractions, some experiences are not ‘natural,’ such as waiting in a traffic jam while jackhammers erupt and large mechanical machines tear into buildings. Such things can unconsciously throw off our body’s rhythm. Dog’s don’t like sudden loud noises, like ambulances. Our bodies don’t like that either; it’s just that we’ve been conditioned not to run around like cave people.
Longer Life
Some longitudinal studies point to proof that living among the trees could prolong one’s life. Looking at it from another perspective, a rural versus urban environment invites less opportunity to be influenced by traffic, discourteous people, and ongoing yet distracting noise. However you look at the cause, the outcome seems to be that living amongst or having close access to a remote natural setting can extend one’s life.
About the Author
Demi Crawford loves to be outdoors as much as she possibly can. She’s a huge fan of the beach, enjoying walks by the ocean most mornings with her 2 dogs.
Are you spending enough time outdoors?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
I saw a report once that said gardening increased your diversity of gut microflora. Presumably it will also help just by spending time outside too?
So many benefits! I especially enjoy vacation time in Upper Michigan. I like picking wild berries and spending time along the shore of Lake Superior.
I’d love to have all of these benefits. Good thing I like being outside! Thanks for sharing on the #WasteLessWednesday Blog Hop!