How much time do you spend out in nature?

 

 

 

 

 

Or even just outdoors in general?

 

AND NO, I DON’T MEAN FROM THE HOUSE TO THE CAR, FROM THE CAR TO WORK/SCHOOL/THE STORE, FROM WORK TO HOME.

 

That definitely doesn’t count. I’m talking about outside, for more than 10 minutes, actually enjoying your surroundings. I have to admit that for me, some weeks it doesn’t feel like nearly enough time outdoors. Sure, I appreciate what a beautiful day it is through my windows at home, or as I drive with the car window down, but do I get what feels like enough actual outside time every day? Nnnope! Sure don’t! And what’s worse is that some days I don’t even notice how I haven’t spent much time outside! EEK!  *face palm*  Am I the only one this happens to?

 

It was Earth day a few days ago, and as my son Noah, my mom, and myself were out cleaning up and replanting the garden I got to thinking;

 

it’s so nice to have the sun shining on us and to be outside!

 

It’s been gloomy and raining here in Southern California, and mixed with the current Covid-19 quarantine, being outdoors hasn’t been on the top of the “to-do” list.

Isn’t it interesting how you can really feel the absence of something like the outdoors once it’s not as readily available to you?

We were raking and planting, and I suddenly wondered how many people were aware of how good it is for you to be outside. Is this something people even give an ounce of thought to? Or do they just go outside whenever it happens, and that’s good enough?

 

Here’s the thing . . . Nature is an incredibly important piece to our ‘Living a Healthy Life’ puzzle. So important in fact, that scientists say

 

we need at least 120 minutes per week of time spent outdoors for optimum health and psychological well-being.

Now, that’s really only 2 hours a week  **cough** out of  168 hours **cough** that you get in a whole week **cough**, which in the big picture really isn’t much, yet somehow we find so many other things to do to take up those 2 hours. What’s up with that humans? Have we gotten so good at being “busy” that we often forget the importance of things like slowing down, being outside, and finding the quiet?

 

Perhaps, like me, you are often realizing you would like (or let’s be real, NEED) more time outside and have been finding more ways to make that happen, but there are still some days that need a little extra push to get you going. Have no fear; Jess is here to give you a ton of information to inspire you to head on out into the great wide open.

 

Let’s begin with a list of 10 health benefits you can get from being out in nature…

1. Lowers blood pressure and stress hormone levels
2. Reduces nervous system arousal
3. Enhances immune system function
4. Reduces anxiety
5. Improves mood
6. Boosts energy
7. Restores your focus
8. Accelerates recovery from surgery or illness
9. Improves sleep
10. Improves self esteem

 

Can we give a big fat WOW and standing ovation to nature, or what?! (This is me, standing out on my balcony clapping at the trees)

 

Just two small little hours a week can help with ALL. OF. THAT! Now imagine if you found even more time than that? WooooWee! We’d be feeling like the best version of ourselves all the time! You should know however, that

in a study of 20,000 people, a team from the European Centre for Environment & Human Health found that 2 hours a week was a pretty hard boundary.

Meaning, they found there were no real benefits for people who didn’t meet that 2-hour threshold. *Sigh* Alrighty then! There you have it. No hiding from that!

 

Thank you scientists, doctors, and Mother Nature herself, for giving us even more push to head outside! Not with 30 minutes, or 1 hour and 45 minutes. No sir, no ma’am. We need that 2 hours at least, to genuinely see the benefits. But hey, if that STILL doesn’t convince you, guess what?

 

I’ve got even more fun, health and wellness benefits to being out amongst nature for ya!

• In a recent study, psychiatric unit resources found that being in nature reduced feelings of isolation, promoted calm, and lifted the mood among their patients.

 

• Psychologists say that exposure to nature helps us shrug off societal pressures, allowing us to remember and value more important things like relationships, sharing, and community.

 

• Being outdoors helps with SAD.

 

– Winter brings shorter days and lower light levels which will  trigger SAD (no, not that kind. But also, yeah, sorta that kind). SAD = Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is a reoccurring condition that is marked by symptoms of anxiety, exhaustion, and sadness.

• Psychologists found that backpackers scored 50% higher on creativity tests after spending a few days in the wild without electronics. Yup, that means a boost of creativity!

 

• You get your daily dose of Vitamin D! And if you don’t yet know what Vitamin D does for you, keep on a readin’!

 

Vitamin D:

– Is essential for a well-functioning body

– Helps us absorb calcium

– Prevents Osteoporosis

– Reduces Inflammation

We get more than 90% of our Vitamin D from casual exposure to the sunlight.

 

 

Hello! How much more convincing do we need? I’m sold! Bring me the beaches, the forests, the parks, the desert. Any of it, all of it.

 

 

I know access is a little more difficult right now amidst closures, but that doesn’t mean we can’t safely take a walk adjacent to the boardwalk, or even simply a good play/sit/nap/picnic/meditation/workout on the grass in our own backyard or nearby park (following all proper safety precautions of course).

Perhaps right now even just a good long sit on your balcony or porch, breathing in the night air, appreciating the stillness of the breeze on your skin can even give you just the mini boost you needed.

 

 

 

Did You Know?…

In 1982, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries coined the term “Shinrin-yoku”. The meaning of this term is to take in the forest atmosphere, or “forest bathing”.

With that, I want you to imagine this: In the middle of a beautiful forest, rays of light peaking through the trees, shining onto you, a light forest breeze surrounding you, birds singing, and the smell of nothing but clean air and giant trees that are full of life and wisdom. THIS my friends, is forest bathing. Ahhhhh, yes please! I will happily take plenty of all that.

 

 

“The earth laughs in flowers”

~Ralph Waldo Emerso

 

 

 

While the poets and storytellers write magical words about the trees, flowers, and fresh air, and the movie makers splash beautiful colors of far away lands across our screens, there we sit . . .

Dreaming of being surrounded by nature.

 

Can we not take those words and those images (and ALL the facts about nature’s health benefits!), and use them as inspiration for actually getting outside? Are we too comfortable? Too comfortable to miss out on the life that nature can give to us.

 

I Challenge You,

even amidst the world’s current situation, to find a love for what the outdoors can do for your life. Make an effort to be outside, in whatever capacity you are able. Find time to breathe in the air, smile at the flowers, and embrace the shade of the trees.

 

Right now we need the healing powers of nature to overwhelm us.

 

 

 

 

       I Love you.

      Go FORTH!

~Jess