Nature and Mental Health
The province of British Columbia in Canada launched a new program called PaRx, in which prescriptions are written by doctors not for medicines, but instead for getting out into nature.
Embracing nature can help both our mental health and physical health. For example – although not a complete alternative to western medicine but as a viable compliment – cancer patients through numerous studies have shown improvements in physical symptoms (such as increased creation of tumour-killing cell activity) and improvements to their mental health including reduction in stress and anxiety levels.
Benefits of Nature
As per parkprescriptions.ca, some of the benefits of getting outdoors include:
Reduces Stress – Sitting in a forest for just 15 minutes significantly reduces your cortisol levels and heart rate variability—while sitting on a urban street does nothing.
Feel Richer – Living in a neighbourhood with 10 or more trees per block improves your health perception similar to an increase in your personal income of $10,000 per year.
Increases Job Satisfaction – Workers whose offices have live indoor plants and windows looking out onto green spaces are more satisfied with their jobs than those without.
Rests Your Brain – People who take a walk in green space instead of on a busy street have fewer repetitive, racing thoughts.
Tips on Enjoying Nature
Below are the top tips to help you incorporate a nature practice into your overall well-being practice:
1. Keep the headphones at home – fully embrace the sounds of nature by leaving your headphones or earbuds at home or your workplace. The sounds of birds singing, water flowing, leaves blowing in the wind
2. Commit to just 2 hours per week – research shows that people who spend at least 2 hours in nature each week report significantly better health and wellbeing. And further studies show that spending between 20 to 30 mins outdoors is ideal for reducing cortisol (stress) levels.
3. Start small – you don’t have to find the nearest mountain to hike up. Even in many urban areas there are small parks. For lunch, go out for a stroll in a nearby park close to your workplace.
Recommended Nature App
AllTrails is a great resource for finding nearby places to enjoy nature.
Instead of just walking along a nearby urban street, see if you can get “off the beaten path” and embrace yourself in the sounds of birds singing, water flowing, or trees bristling in the wind.
There is a free version of the app, and also a Pro paid version with some added features. But at a monthly cost of just $2.99 per month (based on annual plan), it is very reasonable.
Register now to receive personalized advice and product recommendations related to nutrition and how it can improve your mental health.
