GET INTO NATURE

The natural world offers us so many benefits for our minds, our bodies and our overall well being

BENEFITS OF TIME IN NATURE

Spending some time in nature has huge benefits for our health and general well being. The benefits are many and varied and include:

Improved attention.
Lower stress.
Better mood.
Reduced risk of psychiatric disorders.
Increased empathy and cooperation.
Relief of stress and anxiety.
Boosted immune system, creativity, and focus.
Enhanced feelings of happiness and well-being.
Greater relaxation.
Improved relationships with our self and others.
Better breathing.
Improved sleep.

HOW MUCH DO I NEED

Research has shown that spending 120 minutes per week in nature is optimal for our long term health.

Doing it all in one 2 hour chunk or breaking it up into smaller pieces does not seem to matter. Either way, the benefits still hold.

Whether it is in our local park a forest or in woodland, it does not matter as long as it is a green space.

If you don't have access to a green space, just spending time in sunlight and fresh air can help us to feel better in body and mind.

Even the sounds of nature can change our brain activity, shifting our attention outwards and away from our own thoughts, which helps to reduce anxiety.

WHAT DO THE STUDIES SHOW

Meta Analysis (the analysis of large amounts of studies) show amazing results for increased exposure to green spaces. The headline benefits are:

1. Decreased heart rate.

2. Decreased blood pressure.

3. Increased heart rate variability (HRV).

4. Decrease of Type II diabetes.

5. Decrease of all cause mortality.

6. Increased self reported health.

7. Decreased salivary cortisol (a primary indicator of stress).

8. Reduced risk of incidence of heart related diseases, such as stroke, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, asthma, and coronary heart disease.

WHAT SHOULD I DO

It really doesn't matter what we do as long as we are connecting with nature with all of our senses.

Even wearing headphones is fine, although depending on where we are we may not get the benefits of hearing the relaxing sounds.

Walking in nature is great for helping us to take in all the sights and sounds around us.

Running in nature is great for our bodies and minds.

Forest bathing - the practice of walking or just sitting / lying in a forest has been shown to have a significant impact on our immune system. For example 3 x 2 hour walks in a forest on consecutive days have been shown to boost our bodies 'killer cells' by over 50%.

Tips for getting into nature

Do some research and find the nearest green spaces to you.
Aim for a minimum of 120 minutes of exposure in nature per week for optimal health benefits.
Any green space will give you the benefits, even town & city parks.
Exercising in green spaces is a great way to improve our health and our moods.
Even sitting in nature has great health benefits.
Forest bathing is a fantastic way to relax whilst boosting our immune system.
If access to a green space isn't available, spending time in the sunlight and fresh air can be beneficial.
Even listening to the sounds of nature helps us to reduce our anxiety.