Nature Relieves Stress

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ 

Here's your outdoor tip on using nature to relieve stress.

Having a tough day?  Take a walk in the woods and you will find your attitude improving.  Walk at the beach and you will be more relaxed.

Nature can make a real difference in your life.  A doctor at Loyola University Chicago says our stress hormones will lower improving our blood pressure and make us happy.  Japanese researchers have found that walking in the woods might even fight cancer.  It could be the sharing air with plants and animals.  Just the exercise helps also.

More and more research is showing that surrounding yourself with nature can be one of the best relievers of stress that exists.  A recent study measured the levels of the stress hormone in healthy adults asking them questions about what stresses them out in their daily lives.  They then compared that information to the natural environments such as parks and woodlands in participant’s individual living areas.  Study participants living with the most amount of green space had lower levels of cortisol and reported lower levels of stress than those in more barren urban areas.

Information coming from the OPENspace Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh says it’s hard to beat just being with nature when it comes to alleviating stress.  For one thing, living in more open spaces means you get more exercise and that is one of the most natural mood boosters that exists.  Also, moving around your neighborhood gives you the chance to come into more contact with people and to make more friends.  That social contact is another way to reduce stress.

Living in the city does not mean you will be a victim of the happiness-deficit syndrome, but it does mean you might have to work harder to interact with nature.  Most cities have green spaces.  Take advantage of them.  Take a walk in the park on the way to work.  Walk or run through green areas in the city to increase your sense of well-being and reduce stress.

Just as short bursts of intense exercise are showing more benefit than long sessions, short bursts of “nature” are showing to be helpful.  Researchers published in the journal of Environmental Science and Technology provide reports from a study that says spending as little as five minutes outside with light exercise such as walking makes a great improvement in mood and self-esteem. 

Here’s some ideas for you to try:

Eat several meals each week out on your back porch enjoying the sun and fresh air.

Take a trail walk instead of the treadmill inside.

Skip one cup of coffee or tea each day and take a walk outside instead.

Read a book or periodical outside.

Hold your next meeting at work outside.

The idea is for you to be as creative as possible in finding things you can do in the outdoors enjoying nature along with your daily routine—whether it be work or play.

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

Additional outdoor tips can be received by subscribing to the Outdoor Professor Tips on iTunes or Stitcher.  If you enjoy outdoor tips, you’ll also find an ebook at Amazon.com with a collection of the Outdoor Professor Tips.

 

References-Additional Reading

Reduce Depression, Avoid Cancer, and Relax with Nature
http://naturalsociety.com/recharge-immune-system-nature/

Exercise and Depresion
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Exercise-and-Depression-report-excerpt.htm

Nature Quotient
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B6Y0ID8/ref=as_sl_pd_tf_lc?tag=discovtheoutd-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B00B6Y0ID8&adid=0VGZVWSYSNYJVQV9SY4S&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fdiscoveringtheoutdoors.com%2F

More green space is linked to less stress in deprived communities: Evidence from salivary cortisol patterns
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204611003665

 

What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es903183r

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Bird Feeding in the Fall

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ 

Here's your outdoor tip on feeding birds in the fall.

There’s nothing like sitting by your window in the winter enjoying a hot cup of coffee or tea and watching the birds in your backyard enjoying the food you have put out for them to dine on in the cold months when foraging for food is difficult.  You can enjoy birds visiting your backyard all winter if you start them out correctly in the fall.

It’s important that you do not wait until the winter months to feed birds in your backyard.  As the days grow shorter in the fall, the birds start to realize that cold weather is coming and they start to identify potential sources of food for the winter months.  They may not spend much time at your feeder yet, as they are out in the fields feasting on seeds, berries and insects.  But they are definitely scouting sources of food they can come to when their natural sources of meals become scarce.

At the same time when food becomes harder to find in the wild, cold weather increases a bird’s need for calories.  Insects stop flying and the wigglers in the ground move far below the surface.  In the colder climates ice seals seeds and wild fruits away from birds’ access.  Snow may cover up ready access to grounds stores of food.

The fall inventory that birds take is very important to their locating alternative food sources in the winter.  If they find your yard is worth visiting in the fall, they will continue to come for its winter bounty of food.  You’ll find that the first main rush of cold will bring them to you.  And they will be there for you to enjoy throughout the winter.

If you wait for the cold to arrive before you start to stock their food stores in your yard, the birds may not every realize that the food is there.  The stress of cold weather keeps them from extensive exploring.  They save their energy going to a place that they identified in the fall as being productive food sources.  Birds may never find your stuffed feeder all winter unless you start early in the fall.

What foods should you offer?

Seeds should include sunflower, white millet, safflower, cracked corn and broken nuts.  You can hang suet in baskets for wood peckers and try some fruits chopped up.  Regular feeding will keep them coming through the cold months.

Providing a source of unfrozen water may be one of the best ways to get birds into your yard.  You will need to check it daily, but it may be one of the best ways to keep the birds coming.  You may need to add a heater in colder climates to keep the water open.

Each region will have different birds come in the winter.  Some will be short-time visitors as they migrate through, but others will stay for the cold season.  You’ll find that thick bushes and evergreens will encourage many different birds that are looking for shelter.

You can spend as much or little money as you wish on a feeder.  Some people may just toss the feed on the ground.  One of the main considerations is to place the food somewhere where it will remain dry.  Putting food in a variety of places will bring a great variety of your feathered friends.  Each species will have a preference for a different location.

One of the key things is to place the bird food where you can see it from your house.  Then whatever the weather, you will be able to enjoy seeing your hungry visitors come for their winter meal.

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

Additional outdoor tips can be received by subscribing to the Outdoor Professor Tips on iTunes or Stitcher.  If you enjoy outdoor tips, please leave a positive review at these sites.

 

References-Additional Reading

Feeding Birds in the Fall
http://www.birdwatching.com/tips/birdfeedingfall.html

Autum Feeding Tips
http://birding.about.com/od/birdfeeders/a/Autumn-Bird-Feeding-Tips.htm

Bird-Feeding Basics
http://getintobirds.audubon.org/bird-feeding-basics

 

 

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Choosing an Outdoor Knife | Nature|Wildlife

Knife to Choose?

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ 

Here's your outdoor tip on choosing the best knife for the outdoors.

Next to fire starting tools, one of the most important tools you will take with you on an outdoor adventure is a good knife.  A great deal can be done with about any knife if you have the proper skills.  It is a tool that is meant to be used as it has been from the time of our ancestors for hunting, fighting, building, and general survival.  Some knifes might be better than others, but the choice of knife is somewhat personal.

There is a long list of functions for a knife in the outdoors:

• Cutting
• Carving
• Digging
• Fire Creation
• First Aid Tool
• Food Prep
• Hammering
• Hunting Weapon
• Make-Shift Screwdriver
• Prying Tool
• Self-Defense
• Shelter Building
• Signaling
• Splitting

There are almost countless options that meet the personal choices of outdoor explorers.  Again, there is a long list:

Colors

Lanyard positions

Steel type

Handle material

Notches down the spine of a blade

Decorations

Blade serration

Type of sheath

Brand/Manufacturer

Style of blade

Finger Guards

Blood gutter

So there are many considerations to make in selecting a knife, but here are a few important features that you need to consider.

Size:  Big is not always better when it comes to a knife.  If the blade is too big, you can sacrifice the ability to do detailed tasks such as small carvings.  When the blade is too small, it does not function well with chopping and other splitting/carving projects such as cutting wood for the fire.  Many people feel that the ideal size for a knife is about 10-11 inches with a 5+ inch blade.  A longer blade gives more power and durability for hefty tasks.

The blade:   A folding blade will not be as durable as a fixed blade.  The jointed handle and blade can break easily and they usually have shorter and thinner blades than a fixed-blade knife.  A joint means a weakness and you can lose your ability of pounding, chopping, and thrusting.  The folding blade may be handy for everyday use, but the fixed blade makes a stronger utility knife.  The best outdoor knife will have a thick blade to stand up to potentially tough use.  It is questionable to have a serrated edge.  A straight edge is cleaner and easy to sharpen.

Full Tang:  Along with having a fixed blade, a full tang means a stronger knife.  Full tang means that the blade and handle are made from on piece of metal.  Grips are attached to the handle portion of the tang for comfort. It is easy to identify a full tang knife as the metal tang can usually be seen sandwiched between the layers on the top of the handle.  With extended use, a partial tang knife blade can loosen and give you a wobbly handle.  It is difficult to repair a partial tang blade and the knife can be dangerous to use.  A full tang knife is still usable if the handle comes off and it can easily be repaired with a new grip.

Pointed Tip:  Self-defense is the obvious advantage of a sharp pointed tip on your knife.  This can also enable you to make your knife into a spear for hunting.  The sharp point allows detailed work such as picking, drilling or notching—can be great for digging out a splinter.  Access to acorns, hickory or other nuts is much easier with a knife point.  Accessing any hard to access area can be accomplished by the point.

Single-Edged Blade:  Most people think you do not want a double-edged blade.  A dagger is not necessary for most uses and can be a disadvantage.  A flat spine is helpful for fire-starting striking an iron rod—a sharp edge just cuts the metal. The flat edge is helpful to provide pressure or pounding force to cut things such as wood for a fire or notches in logs.

Solid Pommel: The butt or bottom of the knife’s handle is the pommel.  A solid pommel is helpful for pounding.  A rounded or hooked pommel is not good for hammering and you often will want to do this when you are constructing things from wood in the outdoors.

The choice is yours when selecting a knife for the outdoors.  Many features come down to personal choice.  Hopefully, the ideas I presented will help you make the right selection for you.

 

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Additional outdoor tips can be received by subscribing to the Outdoor Professor Tips on iTunes or Stitcher.  If you enjoy outdoor tips, please leave a positive review at these sites.

 

References-Additional Reading

Top 5 Survival Knives (and How to Choose the One that’s Right for you)
http://news.discovery.com/adventure/survival/top-5-survival-knives.htm

How to Choose the Best Survival Knife
http://www.knife-depot.com/learn/best-survival-knife/

 

How to Choose the Perfect Survival Knife
http://www.artofmanliness.com/

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Cancer and Nature |Outdoors | Wildlife

Avoid Cancer…Relax with Nature

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ 

 

Here's your outdoor tip on nature and your health.

When I saw the title, “Reduce Depression, Avoid Cancer, and Relax with Nature,” I was surprised.  What a strong statement to make!  Can they really support this?  I believe that nature is important to your health and the feeling of well-being and have even written a book, The Nature Quotient, that talks about the benefits of interacting with nature.  But this seemed like an extremely strong statement.

 

The author of the article says exactly what I feel, “So the next time you’re out in the woods, at the beach, or walking around the neighborhood, breathe deeply and take it all in—for your mental and physical health.”¹   She starts by discussing Dr. Aaron Michelfelder of Loyola University School of Medicine’s work talking about stress hormones rising all day in our bloodstream.  The Doctor says that even a few moments while walking to reconnect with our inner thoughts will lower damaging stress hormones.  Walking is a great way to lower our blood pressure and make us happier.  Michelfelder further says doctors are slow to change, but they should consider these kinds of alternative therapies. ²

 

It’s in Japan that they have found that walking in the woods could even fight cancer.  They say it is the “air-sharing” or forest bathing³ that we do with plants that helps provide these benefits.  Researchers found that after three days in the forest, 11 or 12 subjects showed increases in nature-killer cell activity.  This was about a 50% increase of lymphocytes known to fight off infection and reduce cancer growth. 

 

Stress can make you feel bad and can also weaken your immune system causing disruption in sleep and even unhealthy food choices.  Most agree that stress is a primary contributing cause of disease.   Nature walks are also great opportunities to enjoy fellowship with your friends and exercise.  Get rid of the negative thoughts that make pessimistic people less healthy and forget your “troubles” by interacting with nature.

 

My conclusion from all of this information is that we have verification that nature can be a powerful force in our lives.  Interacting with nature will provide you with many health benefits.  So, when was the last time you took a walk in the woods?

 

 

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

Additional outdoor tips can be received by subscribing to the Outdoor Professor Tips on iTunes or Stitcher.  If you enjoy these free outdoor tips, please leave a positive review at these sites.

  

References-Additional Reading

 ¹Reduce Depression, Avoid Cancer, and Relax with Nature

 

http://naturalsociety.com/recharge-immune-system-nature/

Understanding Depression – Prevention

http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/understanding-depression-prevention

Stress Tips: Calm Your Mind, Heal Your Body

http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/19/stress-tips-calm-your-mind-heal-your-body/

²More doctors going the alternative route

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-12-14/health/ct-x-1214-alternative-care-doctors-20111214_1_alternative-medicine-medicine-doctor-western-medicine

³Take a walk in the forest

http://www.shinrin-yoku.org/

Nature Quotient

http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Quotient-Richard-Bothel-ebook/dp/product-description/B00B6Y0ID8/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=133140011&s=digital-text

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Who is the Outdoor Professor?

Captain Richard Thomas Bothel, Ed.D.

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ 

Here's your outdoor tip on who is the Outdoor Professor.

Who am I?  I’ve included this information in my tips because as my podcast numbers have increased, I’ve been receiving more and more questions about myself.  Who am I and why am I producing podcasts providing outdoor tips?

So here’s a few thing about me.  I’ve been active in the outdoors my whole life.  At the age of three, my parents started taking my family to a lake in Michigan each summer where I spent every day swimming and fishing—I even have a picture of myself holding a stringer of fish when I was five years old.  When I was in college, bass fishing came on the horizon and I began fishing in tournaments throughout the United States.  I was fortunate to become a regional winner and fished in the first B.A.S.S. Federation National championship. 

After finishing college and becoming a high school teacher I did not have time for the competitive bass fishing, but I became interested in working as a volunteer naturalist at a city park in Indianapolis.  I continued with recreational fishing and some hunting throughout the Midwest, Texas and into Florida.  I also started paddling my canoe more taking trips in the South and up into the Boundary Waters in Canada.

At the turn of the century, I moved to Beaumont, Texas to work at Lamar University.  I was excited about the region because it has one of the large areas of almost untouched wilderness and also three major rivers.  In Southeast Texas I started a nonprofit Environmental Learning and Research Center that purchased a 49 passenger boat that did eco-tours on the Neches River. I went to Sea School and received my US Coast Guard Masters Captain License that enabled me to operate eco-tours on the Neches.  I also started a kayak group that paddled throughout the area that quickly grew to about 400 members.

As I continued my full-time job as a professor at the university, I became more and more involved working with people and encouraging them to spend more time with nature.  I worked through the Texas Master Naturalist Program and completed several certification programs to work with different ages of children and nature.  Over the past few years this enabled me to work with thousands of children and adults to increase their interactions with nature.

In an effort to reach more people, I have written ebooks (Nature Quotient and Outdoor Professor’s Tips); have a Web site, DiscoveringTheOurdoors.com; and Blog, DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/Blog that support exploring nature.  I also have a podcast, Outdoor Professor’s Tips, available via iTunes® and Stitcher® that provides audio programs over the Internet.  I am a frequent presenter and enjoy working with all kinds of people helping them explore nature.  Please contact me at Richard@DiscoveringTheOutdoors.comwith your ideas about how we can further support exploring nature.

So that’s me…I hope you are enjoying the podcasts.  Please leave your positive comments at iTunes or Stitcher.

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

Additional outdoor tips can be received by subscribing to the Outdoor Professor Tips on iTunes or Stitcher.  If you enjoy these free outdoor tips, please leave a positive review at these sites.

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