Spending time outdoors in nature can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and lead to better mental health. Picture: ThinkStock Source: ThinkStock
HOW much time do you actually spend with Mother Nature these days?
We spend so much of our time indoors that it's no surprise we're missing out on the health benefits of being outside. It's time to stop that! There are so many easy ways to get back to nature, try it and see how it improves your mental health, says Body + Soul.
1. Green up your view
A study of US prisoners found that those in cells overlooking farmland had 24 per cent fewer cases of sickness than those in cells facing the prison yard. In a study of hospital patients, those whose rooms faced trees as opposed to a brick wall had a significantly shorter stay and needed less medication. Putting plants in your line of sight around the home can have similar a effect.
2. Get the kids outside
It’s believed that the rising rates of ADHD diagnoses and anxiety in children are linked to the plummeting level of time spent outdoors across the developed world.
"Even if it’s something as simple as feeling the wind on your cheeks or watching ants, the natural environment helps engage children and teaches them how to be in the moment," says research psychologist Eric Brymer.
3. Step off the treadmill
Research shows that running outdoors can not only improve energy levels but promote important stability muscles in your legs that a treadmill can’t. Running on soft surfaces, especially sand, can help strengthen the lower leg muscles and prevent injuries such as ankle sprains and shin splints.
4. Take the scenic route
A US study of older adults found that longer visits to a park were associated with lower blood pressure than shorter visits. And elderly people who lived near tree-lined streets, parks and spaces for walking showed higher longevity over a five-year period.
5. Be challenged by nature
Whether you trek up a mountain, hit the ski slopes or abseil off a cliff, Brymer says "the more you immerse yourself in nature and are challenged by it, the more benefit you’ll get. It promotes confidence, self-esteem and awareness and even a spiritual connection to the world."
