Nature: The Best Kind of Therapist.

Today I am handing the blog over to Kate from Writing it Today, she is talking all about how nature can be a great kind of natural therapy and how you can easily bring it into your life.

Why Being Around Nature is Good for Your Wellbeing.

Hi, I’m Kate from writingittoday —a lifestyle blog with a focus on creative wellbeing. A huge thank you to Sarah and Life in a Break Down for having me today.

We all are guilty of leading busy lives. There’s always something that needs doing; emails that need answering, work that won’t wait, washing up that is waving hello from the kitchen. When you throw social media into the mix, and that need for immediacy—with our lives at our fingertips we are so often expecting instant results from ourselves and others—sometimes it can feel overwhelming. We need to take a step back and regroup.

Nature

One way of reconnecting with ourselves is through nature. Spending time outdoors is well known to help relieve stress and anxiety, and we all know the positive impact of a bit of sunshine on our faces.

If we can connect at least once a day with nature, we can increase our positive wellbeing and keep ourselves more grounded. Most of us have the ability to head outdoors and soak up nature for at least five minutes a day.

And why wouldn’t you want to when:

• Breathing in phytoncides—natural airborne plant chemicals—increase our white blood cells and therefore strengthen our immunity.
• Vitamin D—from the sunshine (yes even in the UK)—is essential for a well-functioning body.
• Direct skin contact with soil triggers the release of Serotonin—a natural mood stabiliser—in our body.
• Natural sunlight also helps to stimulate Serotonin, so if you throw in a bit of exercise to trigger Dopamine—the happy neurotransmitter—then you’ll be rewarded with a positive outlook and increased wellbeing.

Of course, there are endless other reasons why heading outside is good for us, that is simply a snapshot. And when I talk about getting outside, I don’t mean heading out for a 10-mile hike or landscaping your garden, it’s not about the big things. There are a number of different, achievable ways to soak up the goodness of nature.

Ecotherapy in its Simplest Forms

Walking

Head outside and walk. If you can, head to a park or another green space, and spend a few minutes walking, being mindful of the surroundings. Count the birds, listen to the wind in the trees, spot beautiful flowers, or just take a moment to inhale the open air.

Collectables

Head out into a wood and collect parts of nature that you find interesting. Be it leaves, wood bark, feathers, petals, or twigs (of course don’t take anything that will damage the environment or wildlife). These items could be used to make art projects, or you could simply keep them to use in a mindful way for when getting outside is not possible.

Bird Watching

Keep an eye on the sky and try to spot different species of birds. You don’t need to know them or name them, although learning this can be fun too. Just noticing their differing traits is enough. You could set up a bird feeder at the window if it’s not easy to get outside. Or, if birds aren’t your thing, look for insects, worms, cats and dogs if you’re not rural, or butterflies.

Litter Picking

This is something we should all be doing anyway. Not only will it get you outside, it will increase your positive wellbeing through engaging with the environment in a helpful way. Stay safe by wearing gloves if you’d like.

Cloud Watching

Find a safe space to lie down and stare up at the sky. Or, if you can’t get to the floor, find a seat that allows you a good view. Spot the clouds and—just like you did when you were a child—make shapes and characters from them. We spend so much time looking down, whether it’s at the pavement or the screen in our hands, that reconnecting with the sky is powerful. It can put life into perspective in an instant.

Bring the Outside in

For those who are less fortunate and can’t get outside, try to bring the outside in. You could go about your everyday activities in front of a window. Or draw up a chair by a patio door and sit and enjoy the breeze on your skin. Download some nature noises—waves, birdsong, or crickets—and listen to them with your eyes closed.

There you have it. Why nature is the best therapist, and some ideas at how to work with her for a brighter, more positive wellbeing. Let me know how you get on, or if you have any other ideas for connecting with nature in a positive way.

Author Bio:

Kate, found at Writing It Today, focuses on lifestyle, parenting, and creative wellbeing. She has over seven years of experience as a therapist and 15 years as a creative writer; which includes several published novels and a couple of films!

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