Nature is not just a place to feel the awe of the universe and creation. Nature is a human right. But we currently choose to spend 93% of our lives indoors and access to nature is often restricted to high socioeconomic areas. Forests are a type of “leisure” that most Dallasites go on vacation to enjoy.
The Buckeye Trail and the Great Trinity Forest are just out our urban back door and are not only for intrepid hikers.
Early morning nature resets circadian rhythm. Nature gives us a sense of place. Humans find resilience through the incorporation of natural beauty in their lives.
Listening to birdsong may help your mood. You hear more birds in the forest, and not just the drab noises of urban generalist birds. A study found that listening to audio clips of birdsong for as short as 6 minutes reduces feelings of anxiety, depression, and paranoia in healthy participants.
Jackie and Sherri Mixon share their daily, and spiritual, relationship with birds.
Physical activity in a green space can improve cognitive control, short and long-term memory, and overall brain function and performance in school. Children who walk in a park for 20 minutes concentrate in school longer, have better participation, and experience reduced need for attention deficit medication.
A walk in the forest is exercise and walking on uneven ground improves balance and muscle strength. A 30-minute visit to nature can improve heart health and circulation and lower cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure. Walking in nature reduces inflammation and boosts your immune system, which decreases the risk of obesity and certain diseases and cancers, including cancer of the bladder, breast, colon, kidney, and stomach. Interacting with a green space increases social interactions which can prevent diseases like dementia. Researchers found that children are doubly active when outside.
Having views of nature at work or school increases direct attention, well-being, and life satisfaction. Hospital research reveals that spinal surgery patients experienced less pain and stress and took fewer pain medications during their recoveries if they were exposed to outside sunlight and that cancer patients, especially those undergoing surgery, with a view out a hospital window had shortened recovery periods.
The Japanese practice of “forest bathing” (immersion in the forest), developed in the 1980s, seeks the powerful energy and exquisite calm that permeates the forests in Japan’s natural ecosystems. The forest bather is rewarded with an opportunity for reflection, a boost in positive energy, and a revived sense of wellness. These bathers walk quietly through forest landscapes, concentrating on the energy of their surroundings, and appreciating the present.
Try it:
- Take a few deep breaths and center yourself. Focus on what your senses are taking in, whether the scent of the plants or a chorus of chirping birds.
- Simply look at your surroundings. Watch how the trees sway in the wind or simply walk around. If you walk, go at an easy pace and without a specific destination in mind.
- Let your mind and senses explore the environment. See, hear, and look for patterns on leaves. Look for moments that make you feel amazement or awe. Look with fresh eyes or take a new walking path to renew the awe experience.
- If you can, forest bathe for 20 minutes or more per day for increased well-being and happiness and decreased stress. The goal is to relax and detach. It should be an activity you look forward to and enjoy.
- Journaling to keep track of your experience or thoughts while immersed in nature is a good way to track how the practice makes you feel over time.
