Nature has a unique way of making us feel refreshed and alive. Spending time in the great outdoors can have numerous benefits for our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Being in nature, we are able to unplug and reconnect with a more primal & simplistic state of being. Today, we’re going to talk about Ecopsychology and some of the top benefits of spending time in nature outside. Continue reading to learn how the great outdoors can be more effective than many of your prescription medications.
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What is Ecopsychology?
Ecopsychology is a word for “the study of nature and how it affects the human mind.” We’ve learned in the last 10+ months while full-time traveling in a RV that there’s nothing that even comes close to comparing with nature. You can take prescription meds, read self-help books, go to therapy, practice gratitude daily, etc. and then adding in time with nature will make you feel even better.
Research done by Yale University, showed that time in nature — as long as people felt safe in their environment — was an antidote for stress. Spending time outdoors can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood.
In other studies done by the American Psychological Association it was discovered that a simple stroll through a city park or a day spent hiking in the wilderness can be extremely beneficial. Their studies showed that exposure to nature was linked to improved attention, lower stress hormones, overall better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders and even upticks in empathy and cooperation.
So why is this the case? What about nature encourages our mind and bodies to breathe slower, reduce anxiety, and function better holistically? Ecopsychology is a growing field that studies how nature and our environment affects our mental health, stress, mood, physical activity, oxygen levels, and more. We originally thought nature freaks were the only ones who thought this way – but numerous studies have shown that the hippies were right all along and modern science is actually on their side.
Nature Can Do Many Things, So Let’s Explore its Benefits:
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Nature has a calming effect on our minds and bodies. Being surrounded by plants, trees, and fresh air can help reduce stress and anxiety levels. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can significantly lower cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress.
Stress is a major talking point for everyone – you hear it in the news, at work meetings, and even in casual conversations. Everyone is “so busy” and stressed. The stress may look different person to person but there’s one thing that remains consistent – stress will completly fill any space you allow it to have.
There’s many times when we get stressed from overworking, being too busy, not having enough free time, or even just not sleeping properly. Getting out into nature is a free, easy way to get out and feel better – instantly. You don’t have to call the doctor to get a prescription and wait for it to kick it, you don’t have to sit in a therapy session for an hour, you don’t have to wait another day – just grab your shoes and hit the road, Jack.
Improves Physical Health
Nature is a great place to engage in physical activity. Hiking, walking, and biking are just a few examples of outdoor activities that can improve your cardiovascular health, reduce your risk of obesity, and lower your blood pressure.
It’s well known that we all need to work out, eat healthier, have less sugar and caffeine, and many, many other things that doctors tell us at every annual visit. However, just going out on a walk is enough to help – Rome wasn’t built in a day. While you are out exploring you get to create your own adventure. Do you want to hike 1 mile or 5 miles? The world is your oyster. The key is that you are outdoors doing something, and something is better than nothing.
You’ll also notice it’s easier to not chug coffee, energy drinks, and caffeine-packed beverages when you exercise often. There’s evidence that suggests that the feeling your body gets from caffeine and sugar is similar to the feeling of anxiety or stress. With a lot of caffeine intake, your body is plunged into high stress and anxiety mode against its will, and you are left confused why you feel so jittery and hazily awake. It’s not healthy for any of us, but we do it anyway.
Did you know that walking, hiking, running, or doing any form of exercise outdoors is the healthiest way for your body to produce “natural caffeine?” There’s no drawbacks to taking a walk. Unlike grabbing a sugar filled caffeinated beverage, you won’t have a sugar crash at the end of that walk either.
Boosts Immune System
Being in nature can also help boost your immune system. Trees and plants release phytoncides, which are chemicals that help protect them from germs and insects. When we breathe in these natural chemicals, our bodies respond by increasing the number and activity of a type of white blood cell that fights infection and even cancer.
The National Library of Medicine says,
“A growing body of evidence suggests that various forms of being exposed to nature, such as living close to, frequenting or even looking at environments dominated by living material, are able to provide salutogenic effects on human health. They range from beneficial psychological to physiological outcomes such as attention restoration, improved mood, lowered anxiety and decrease in depressive symptoms, improved cardiovascular, metabolic, oncogenic, respiratory and endocrine function as well as faster healing after surgery and longer life-expectancy. Often, these benefits are attributed to indirect effects of nature exposure, such as increased physical activity, social interactions, positive mental effects and exposure to sunlight, but recent findings have also highlighted direct physiological mechanisms that are triggered by exposure to natural environments. This review focuses on direct mechanisms by which nature can affect human health, more specifically on air-borne compounds emitted by natural environments that have the potential to modulate immunological responses when inhaled, such as biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), terpenes, essential oils, charged ions, pollen, fungi and bacteria.”
Did you know that your immune system could be enhanced by being out in nature? Because studies are finding out that it absoutely can be.
Enhances Creativity
Nature has been found to enhance creativity and problem-solving abilities. In a study conducted by the University of Utah, participants who went on a nature walk prior to testing performed better on a creativity test than those who went on an urban walk.
Provides Mental Clarity
Nature can also help clear our minds and improve our focus. Stepping away from our daily routines and technology can help us recharge and refocus our thoughts.
Have you ever been sitting at work for a few hours and just felt like you can’t focus anymore? There’s too many phones ringing, emails buzzing, your boss wants to have a meeting, and the intern has 500 questions for you today. It’s all happening at once, and the reality is that our brains and bodies were not made to handle this much stimulation at once.
Stress, depression, and other mental illnesses often follow when we are subjected long term to doing something that we can’t sustain. Your mind and body both can not keep up with the constant pinging of the world – so give them a break.
By going outside in nature, you allow yourself to see the trees, plants, animals, and the simplicity of the world. We have stepped away from a simple life in exchange for our digital world of notifications. At any time, you can decide to put down your phone and walk outside. Even turn it off, so that it won’t bother you the rest of the day. We are allowed to rest, and none of us are robots – even if our employers think we are or want us to be. We have to take breaks and reconnect with ourselves.
Wrapping Up:
Spending time in nature can have numerous benefits for our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Whether it’s through hiking, camping, or even just taking a walk in the park, make sure to incorporate nature into your life to reap the (many) benefits it has to offer.
We appreciate you reading this far!
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