how nature helps us unwind our mind and soul

How Nature Helps Us Unwind Our Mind and Soul

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How Nature Helps Us Unwind Our

Mind and Soul

Nature deprivation, a lack of time in the natural world, largely

due to hours spent in front of TV or computer screens, has been

associated, unsurprisingly, with depression. More unexpected are

studies by Weinstein and others that associate screen time with

loss of empathy and lack of altruism.

And the risks are even higher than depression and isolation. In a

2011 study published in the Journal of the American College of

Cardiology, time in front of a screen was associated with a higher

risk of death, and that was independent of physical activity!

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Mind and Soul

In today’s age of high technology, research shows that our hunger

for the natural world still endures. In fact, our connections with

nature could just be the best medicine for people of all ages—improving our health, happiness, and well-being.

Those same connections could also heal the planet. Many

teenagers and young adults, spend far less time in nature today

than in recent decades.



Mind and Soul

There are no required classes in nature connectedness in our

schools, nor is nature a well-utilized tool for teaching kids to

critically think about the world around them. New research,

however, suggests our relationship with nature may be deeply

linked to our happiness.

The stress of an unpleasant environment can cause you to feel

anxious, or sad, or helpless. This in turn elevates your blood

pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension and suppresses your

immune system. A pleasing environment reverses that.



Mind and Soul

Nature Heals

Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger,

fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature

not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your

physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle

tension, and the production of stress hormones.

It may even reduce mortality, according to scientists such as public

health researchers Stamata is and Mitchell.



Mind and Soul

Research done in hospitals, offices, and schools has found that

even a simple plant in a room can have a significant impact on

stress and anxiety.

Nature Soothes

In addition, nature helps us cope with pain. Because we are

genetically programmed to find trees, plants, water, and other

nature elements engrossing, we are absorbed by nature scenes

and distracted from our pain and discomfort.



Mind and Soul

This is nicely demonstrated in a now classic study of patients who

underwent gallbladder surgery; half had a view of trees and half

had a view of a wall.

According to the physician who conducted the study, Robert

Ulrich, the patients with the view of trees tolerated pain better,

appeared to nurses to have fewer negative effects, and spent less

time in a hospital.

More recent studies have shown similar results with scenes from

nature and plants in hospital rooms.



Mind and Soul

Nature Restores

One of the most intriguing areas of current research is the impact of

nature on general wellbeing. In one study in Mind, 95% of those

interviewed said their mood improved after spending time outside,

changing from depressed, stressed, and anxious to more calm and

balanced.

Other studies by Ulrich, Kim, and Cervinka show that time in nature

or scenes of nature are associated with a positive mood, and

psychological wellbeing, meaningfulness and vitality.



Mind and Soul

Furthermore, time in nature or viewing nature scenes increases our

ability to pay attention. Because humans find nature inherently

interesting, we can naturally focus on what we are experiencing out

in nature. This also provides a respite for our overactive minds,

refreshing us for new tasks.

Spending Time with Nature Makes People More Alive

Being outside in nature makes people feel more alive, finds a series

of studies published in the June 2010 issue of the Journal of

Environmental Psychology.



Mind and Soul

And that sense of increased vitality exists above and beyond the

energizing effects of physical activity and social interaction that are

often associated with our forays into the natural world, the studies

show.

"Nature is fuel for the soul," says Richard Ryan, lead author and a

professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. "Often when

we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests

a better way to get energized is to connect with nature," he says.



Mind and Soul

The findings, adds Ryan, are important for both mental and physical

health. "Research has shown that people with a greater sense of

vitality don't just have more energy for things they want to do, they

are also more resilient to physical illnesses. One of the pathways to

health may be to spend more time in natural settings," says Ryan.

Professor Ryan’s Other Experiments

Two final experiments tracked participants' moods and energy levels

throughout the day using diary entries.



Mind and Soul

Over either four days or two weeks, students recorded their

exercise, social interactions, time spent outside, and exposure to

natural environments, including plants and windows.

Across all methodologies, individuals consistently felt more energetic

when they spent time in natural settings or imagined themselves in

such situations. The findings were particularly robust, notes Ryan;

being outside in nature for just 20 minutes in a day was enough to

significantly boost vitality levels.



Mind and Soul

Interestingly, in the last study, the presence of nature had an independent

energizing effect above that of being outdoors. In other words, conclude

the authors, being outdoors was vitalizing in large part because of the

presence of nature.

Nature restores mental functioning in the same way that food and water

restore bodies. It is essential to venture out and be in tune with our

environment. From snorkeling, paragliding, trekking, rafting and safaris,

there is plenty of stuff to do and experience. 365Hops assures to make

you nature adventure a memorable and a mesmerizing experience.


http://www.365hops.com/blog/category/paragliding/

http://www.365hops.com/blog/category/trekking/

http://www.365hops.com/blog/category/rafting/

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