Why Spending Quality Time in Nature Matters
Spending quality time in Nature is essential for our health and wellbeing
We know Nature is good for us but our busy lives can often prevent us from taking time out for a walk or setting aside a few moments to appreciate and absorb the natural world around us.
I adore spending time in Nature and would dearly love to have more time to go exploring too. If I don’t go outside every day, it makes me feel a bit like I have fallen off the wagon or that I have failed myself in some way.
It can be difficult to find the right balance. My work involves many hours being creative on a computer but the content I produce requires me to experience Nature as much as possible (and take interesting photographs at the same time).
I discovered some interesting facts about the benefits of being in Nature and wanted to share this with you, and how I weave meaningful Nature-time into my day without having to stick to a strict schedule.
Here is a summary of what I found.
Spending at least two hours a week in Nature is associated with good health and wellbeing
In a research study led by Mathew White of the European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter, findings confirmed that people who spend a minimum of two hours a week in green spaces are substantially more likely to report good health and psychological wellbeing than those who don’t.
In a sample of over 20,000 respondents, asking them about occasions in the last week when they spent quality time outdoors (not including trips to the shops or general errands), the likelihood of reporting good health or high wellbeing became significantly greater with contact of only 120 minutes, not necessarily all at the same time.
The Nature Fix: Why Nature makes us happier, healthier and more creative
In her exceptional book which is available to purchase from my Spiral Leaf affiliate bookshop, journalist Florence Williams confirms that Nature serves as a welcome reprieve from the relentless demands and distractions of modern-day life.
Florence makes the compelling case that Nature not only makes us feel better subjectively, but also alters our biology, measurably subduing our fight-or-flight stress response and bringing about a state of calm.
The importance of outdoor play for young children's healthy development
Yes, I know, we aren’t children any more but wouldn’t we love to be a bit more child-like and loosen ourselves up a little? It is a fact that this is very good for us as well, but that’s for another post.
This is an excellent research study published by Elsevier Espana on behalf of the Biomedical Society. I would say it applies to any human being whatever our age may be. It is based on the premise that changes in current societies are affecting childhood experiences. Time for outdoor play is diminishing, contributing to more sedentary lifestyles, disconnected from the natural world.
The conclusion is that the outdoor environment offers unique stimuli that capture a child’s attention and interest. Sticks, rocks, flowers, soil, water and so on are explored with curiosity and enthusiasm to learn, offering countless possibilities for play. A sense of discovery and fascination influences meaningful learning and allows for the development of an emotional connection with the environment.
You only have to scan my Twitter feed to know that this is exactly my approach. It is my daily mission to encourage people to look more closely into Nature and appreciate the beauty and ingenuity of natural things. My followers say they love to see such posts in their feed every day and I am only too happy to oblige.
Quality rules over quantity
The most important thing to remember (apart from the fact that avery manageable 2 hours a week spent outside is demonstrably good for us) is that quality rules over quantity.
It doesn't have to be about hiking a mountain or walking ten miles every-single-day (or even a mile). In fact, if being in Nature seems like a chore or becomes too exhausting, it will reap no measurable benefits. Going outside to scroll through messages on a mobile or chat to a friend, does not represent spending quality time in Nature either. It may tick a box on a to-do list but it isn’t going to be of much benefit.
You will have heard about the wonders of spending 10 minutes to meditate, go within and find your place of calm at the beginning and/or end of the day. It is well proven that this helps us to relax and remove any jangling thoughts that might set us off on the wrong foot or prevent us from falling into a deep and restful sleep at night. For these reasons alone, it comes highly recommended.
Where the magic happens
It’s the same with spending time in Nature. To experience healthy benefits means absorbing ourselves into the moment. It means breathing in the fresh air, feeling the wind on our face, submerging our (bare) feet into the earth and smelling the natural fragrances and essential oils continously emitted from the trees, plants and flowers around us.
The magic happens when we intentionally observe and marvel at the intricacies of veins on leaves or the gossamer wings on flies; when we feel the rough bark on trees or the silky softness of a blossoming rose; when we listen to the delightful melodies of birdsong, and when we take in the vibrant colours of a sunset or the magnificence of a distant landscape (which, by the way, is very good exercise for our eyes).
These are the moments we come to treasure and remember as some of the most poignant and remarkable experiences in our lives.
Being geniunely fascinated by Nature reignites our child inside and helps us to remember the sense of discovery that brings about meaningful curiosity, learning and inspiration. It serves to enhance our emotional connection with Nature and this can only serve us well.
Going with the flow
In terms of my Nature routine, I have given up on having a strict routine. Yes, it would be great to go for a long walk everyday and I would love it to be a hike across Dartmoor - try and keep me away!
However, it’s always not doable with so much going on. I now save my longer walks for weekends and holidays, and by the time the weekend arrives, I can’t wait to get out there.
At various points in the day when I am working from home, I like to take time out in my tiny garden to have a cup of tea, admire my plants, watch spiders hanging out or muse on the clouds drifting by in sky. I like to go out on our shared lawn, take my boots off and feel the dewy grass cooling my warm toes. I also like tending to my house plants, growing seeds, reading books about Nature or making something inspired by Nature. These are all great alternatives if going outside isn’t an option. I have built up a collection of books in my bookstore which I can always turn to.
Absorbing yourself in the moment is so beneficial and often the simplest of things bring the most joy. We can all weave such moments into our day, whatever we are doing and wherever we happen to be.
In further posts, I will talk about the importance of these intimate connections and how we can engage on all levels of our being. For now, focus on consciously being in the moment with something wild, and you will be halfway there.
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