The power of nature is magnificent and potent. The crunch of stones and fallen leaves. The fresh air blowing around your body, you can smell the moss and the morning dew. Birds are singing in the distance.
Just a short walk surrounded by nature has been shown to improve all kinds of health conditions including mental health.
Ecotherapy
Ecotherapy (also known as green therapy, nature therapy, and earth-centered therapy) is the use of nature for therapeutic purposes. It has shown a strong connection between time spent in nature and reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, says Harvard Medical School.
Researchers have found that people who did a nature walk for 90 minutes had lower activity in the prefrontal cortex. It is a brain region that causes repetitive thoughts that focus on negative emotions. This part of the brain malfunctions when people are stressed or depressed, they will experience a continuous loop of negative thoughts.
Nature Destinations
When traveling, try to go to a destination with plentiful natural resources. It will make your vacation a more fulfilling experience. The powers of nature will help improve your overall health. It has even been shown to lower blood pressure. Because of this, you will arrive back home feeling more refreshed and in a better state of mind.
Travel to a location where you can focus on greenery like plants, trees, and flowers. Be interactive and focus on the moment, find peace and tranquility all around you. Mindfulness is a powerful tool to utilize. Watch as all of your fears, anxiety and stress melt away.
Great destinations to visit which are perfect for this:
- Bali
- Costa Rica
- Thailand
- Amazon, Peru
- Tulum, Mexico
- Malaysia
- Greece
- Colorado, USA
- Gatlinburg Tennessee, USA
- Nachi Falls, Japan
At Home
If you are unable to travel out of town there are plenty of ways to find or bring nature into your home.
Take a walk around a green space close to home 2-3 days a week. This will improve your overall well being. For more information on traveling by home, check out my other blog How to Travel in Your Own Backyard.
If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a lack of natural light can cause you to have depressive moods. If you are unable to travel and the weather is challenging look into picking up a “happy light”. It offers a full spectrum of light that helps mimic the benefits of sunlight.
Try bringing calming nature sounds into your home. Just the sounds of nature have been shown to have positive effects on the brain. It helps your brain be in a calm wakeful state, similar to when you are daydreaming.
You can find nature sounds from a streaming service like Spotify, or Pandora. There are also visual services like YouTube where you can search for relaxing nature sounds.
When you plan your next trip, focus on a destination with natural resources. The power of nature is a wonderful tool to help improve your overall wellbeing and mental health. Because of this, you will find yourself more refreshed when returning back home. If you are unable to travel try either nature sounds or adding a happy light at home. Just remember my new travel friends, we are in this together.