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/
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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
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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