Spending some of our free time in nature has enormous health benefits. Woods and city parks are an excellent way to promote daily wellbeing and reconnect with our natural side.
Most of us spend a large part of our day indoors, such as at work. Often without getting much physical exercise. Over time, this can lead to health problems of varying severity. But even just a few minutes a day are enough to take a break from the daily grind, enjoy some time in nature and recharge your batteries. Here are 5 good reasons to spend our free time in nature.
Stress reduction
In Japan, they call it Shinrin-yoku, a term that could be translated as ‘forest bathing’. It refers to the traditional practice of taking long walks in the woods. Walking surrounded by trees, breathing in their scents and listening to their sounds, triggers positive reactions in our nervous system. A walk in the woods acts as a real antidote to stress: it relaxes the mind and body, slowing the heart rate and reducing the production of those hormones (such as cortisol) that are the harbingers of stress.
Increased vitality
Spending your free time in nature is often far more rejuvenating than a cup of coffee. According to studies conducted by Professor Ryan and published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, spending time in green spaces boosts vitality regardless of an individual’s habits regarding physical activity or social interaction. Nature thus becomes a true ‘fuel for the soul’.
5 motivi per cui stare nella natura ci fa stare bene
According to research conducted by Taylor and Kuo, children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder who spend their free time in nature exhibit less severe symptoms. Among the 400 children diagnosed with ADHD, those who regularly played outdoors in green spaces developed better concentration. Not only that, but they were generally calmer, more relaxed and happier.
Increased creativity
Anyone in a creative profession, or simply anyone who wants to keep their creativity alive, will know this: nature is a real source of inspiration for the mind. This is backed up by an interesting study conducted by a team of British scientists, who actually measured a 50 per cent increase in creativity during a four-day period of total immersion in nature, without the use of technology or the internet.
It also improves memory
Walking in a forest improves the ability to remember things, especially regarding short-term memory. This was demonstrated during an experiment in Michigan (Berman, Jonides & Kaplan, 2008): a group of people was asked to remember a sequence of numbers. They were then divided into two groups: one walked in a forest and the other on a crowded street. Those who had walked in the greenery recorded a 20% better result.
