Nature Journal

 

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

Here’s your outdoor tip on keeping a nature journal.

Nature provides a natural, free, and accessible therapy that can benefit almost everyone. A few years ago, the University of Essex compared the results of a 30-minute walk in a park to the same amount of time walked in an indoor mall (Mind, 2007).

•          Seventy-one percent reported decreased feelings of depression after the walk in the park vs 22 percent reported an increase in depression after the inside walk with 45 percent experiencing a decrease

•          Seventy percent felt less tense after walking in the park; 50 percent felt tenser after walking in the shopping center

•          Ninety percent claimed increased self-esteem after the park; 44 percent experienced lower self-esteem after the shopping walk

•          Eighty-eight percent reported an improved mood after the walk outside compared with 44.5 percent in the mall with a lower mood

What these examples are telling us is that your interaction with nature “can improve your health and sense of well-being”—the theme of my book,Nature Quotient. One of the best ways to ensure you will maintain regular interactions with nature is by keeping a “Nature Journal.”

This means that you will carry a notebook with you all the time.  Small handheld computers or telephones may work, but I think most people have the best luck by carrying a paper journal--a nice small one that will fit in your pocket or purse.  If you want to get really serious about the journal you might want to carry the water-proof variety that is easily available online. Whatever the form of journal you use, it should be comfortable for you.  It should fit your lifestyle and personality.

Next, you need to commit to writing something in your journal every day.  You do not need to be in the outdoors to make an entry in your journal—thought ideally you should be outside every day.  If you cannot make it to the outdoors, make any entry about what you might like to do outdoors on that day.  You can even write about an excuse for not going out—but make it a good one.  The point is that you enter each day something relating to the outdoors.

The style of your writing is not important.  The substance is what is important.  Write for yourself—don’t worry about others reading your journal.  Spelling and grammar should not slow you down.  Your goal should be to include thoughts about nature on paper each day.  Ideally, you will be going outdoors as much as possible.

There are days when you might just write a few words.  Don’t worry about length—some days you may write a page or two.  The important thing is for you to be consistent about writing “something” regarding nature each day. 

At the end of each week and then month’s end, look at how many days in the week or month you were able to spend time outdoors and take notes in your journal.  Weekly and monthly record in your journal how many days you are actually spending in the outdoors. Even if you just sit outside your backdoor, or write at a table of an outdoor patio at a restaurant, you are moving in the right direction.  What you will find is after a few months of writing in your nature journal, you will be increasing the amount of time you spend in the outdoors interacting with nature. Writing will help you focus on nature and encourage you to spend more time outdoors.

A recent article in Advances in Psychiatric Treatment provides you with the following basic outcomes for just journal writing:

Health outcomes

Fewer stress-related visits to the doctor

Improved immune system functioning

Reduced blood pressure

Improved lung function

Improved liver function

Fewer days in hospital

Improved mood

Feeling of greater psychological well-being

Reduced depressive symptoms before examinations

Fewer post-traumatic intrusion and avoidance symptoms

Social and behavioral outcomes

Reduced absenteeism from work

Quicker re-employment after job loss

Improved working memory

Improved sporting performance

Higher students’ grade point average

Altered social and linguistic behavior

 

Don’t delay.  Start writing in your journal today.  Your nature journal will move you toward increased interactions with nature.  Your interactions with nature can improve your health and sense of well-being.

 

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 e-book at Amazon.com with a collection of the Outdoor Professor Tips.

 

References-Additional Reading

8 Reasons Keeping a Journal Can Help you Reach Your Goals
http://www.becomingminimalist.com/reasons-to-journal/

26 Reasons Why I Keep a Journal (And Why You Should, Too)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peggy-nolan/why-i-keep-a-journal_b_3594722.html

Emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing
http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/11/5/338.full

Ecotherapy: the green agenda for mental health
http://www.mind.org/mindweek/report

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Drugs and Nature

Drugs vs Nature

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

Here's your outdoor tip on drugs vs nature.

Prescription drugs are the second most commonly abused category of drugs. The National Institutes of Health reports that nearly 20 percent of people in the United States have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons. Once someone begins taking pills for managing blood pressure and cholesterol, it becomes easier to take narcotic pain killers, prescription sleep aids and other, more addictive drugs. It also increases the risk of negative and possibly fatal interactions between drugs.

There are a growing number of psychologists that believe many of our modern-day problems of depression, stress and anxiety can be partially tracked to our alienation from nature. Violence and aggression is seen in urban settings lacking trees and grass. The bond between humans and other living organisms is being lost. Contact with nature can stop many of these mental difficulties.

Seniors may have some of the greatest potential to benefit from connection with our natural world. Returning to the abuse of drugs, persons over the age of 65 make up only 13 percent of the population and account for about one-third of all medications prescribed in the United States. Elderly are at risk for prescription drug abuse by taking medications that are not medically necessary. Older individuals may be reluctant to report depressive symptoms to their doctors, and instead misuse prescription and over-the-counter drugs to self-medicate. Interaction with nature may curb the need for many medications.

Outdoor activities are now thought to slow aging. Endorphins in the brain stimulated by walks in the park can help improve mood, increase self-confidence, and fight depression. Outdoor activity can help ward off heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure and obesity. Returning to our natural roots can yield an almost unlimited number of benefits to the individual.

 

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 e-book at Amazon.com with a collection of the Outdoor Professor Tips.

 

References-Additional Reading

Bothel, R.T. (2013).  Nature Quotient.eBook @Amazon.com

The Difference Between Herbs and Drugs
http://www.naturalhealthschool.com/difference-between-herbs-and-drugs.html

Reduce Depression, Avoid Cancer, and Relax with Nature
http://consciouslifenews.com/reduce-depression-avoid-cancer-relax-nature/

Prescription Drug Abuse.  (2009). CRC Health Group's Comprehensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment programs .
http://www.prescription-drug-abuse.org/

 

 

 

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Camera and Kayak

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

Here's your outdoor tip on your camera in your kayak.

Photography and kayaking go together.  Being close to the water and being able to silently approach nature provide for some unique pictures.  At the same time some feel that kayaking and cameras are much like “oil and water”—the two don’t mix because of the chance of your camera taking an unwanted dip in the water.  I think this is a mistake, but there are a few things you need to watch when you take your camera with you in your kayak or canoe.

To begin with, don’t take your camera with you the first time you get into your kayak.  You need to have some experience paddling before you take any equipment with you that may be easily damaged if you accidently turn over your boat.  It doesn’t take much time however before you can feel comfortable in taking a camera with you.  You do want to use some common sense, however. 

Start with the attitude that you are going to balance photography with the paddling experience.  You need to keep paddling safety in mind and you may have to sacrifice taking pictures on some of the trip if paddling conditions dictate safety first for your boat and camera equipment.  As with most photography, good shots come with planning and this is very true with kayaking photography.

The first question is what camera equipment you should take paddling with you.  My suggestion is start with an inexpensive waterproof camera.  Today’s technology provides you with a wide selection of waterproof cameras you can take.  Major camera companies provide several models of reasonably priced cameras that are good up to about 30 meters of submersion.  There are also a large number of the new plastic encased mini cameras that you can use.  Many of these choices are below $200 and should provide peace of mind on your initial trips with camera in kayak.  You may sacrifice some quality and capabilities with the waterproof choice, but it will give you a chance to build up confidence with you camera in kayak adventure.  Easy access to these cameras is also good.  You can usually just clip this camera’s strap to your PFD and have it ready for any surprise photo opportunity that might come along.  These waterproof cameras can also be attached to your kayak or an extension pole to give you some unique photo angles.

You should have a good dry bag to carry any camera gear and other equipment in your kayak. As you gain experience on the water with a better camera, you may want to carry a telephoto lens, an external flash, and extra memory cards and batteries.  You do want to remember that weight is important with a kayak and it adds up quickly particularly when you are also packing other camping equipment.  A high quality dry bag is important, but you must also be careful to pack your equipment with internal protection to ward off bumps from rocks and logs.  A bag liner to provide padding is a good idea.  If you are expecting a particularly rough trip with rapids and fast water, additional protection with a block of foam cutout for your equipment is helpful.  The best camera protection is a hard case that will protect your electronics from impacts and the water. Getting your equipment in and out of the case is easy and great if you have space in your boat. The limitation is that a hard case can be heavy and does not provide much flexibility in using small storage spaces that are available in a kayak.

Don’t forget that even the most treacherous water can provide great opportunities for pictures, but you may want to move to the shore and walk along the difficult stretch of water to catch the wildness of the fast water.  You can have access to stretches of water that would be difficult to access totally by land.

The next time you go kayaking; don’t leave your camera at home.  Kayaks and cameras are a natural combination to explore and interact with nature.

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 e-book at Amazon.com with a collection of the Outdoor Professor Tips.

 

References-Additional Reading

How to Pack Camera Gear for Kayaking and Canoeing
http://www.paddlinglight.com/articles/how-to-pack-camera-gear-for-kayaking-and-canoeing/

Paddling With Camera Gear
http://www.rapidmedia.com/whitewater/categories/skills/3972-paddling-with-camera-gear.html

Kayaking Photography Tips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoLPlaInvHk

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