People find it strange when I say that nature is my church. That's the place to go when I don't feel connected or feel out of sorts. Walk on the beach or take a walk through the woods and get out in nature to get your connection back. It's even scientifically proven that nature can be your rescue! Plenty of research shows the healing and calming effects of nature on the mind and body. Published research shows that people who took a 90 minute walk in nature reported lower levels of rumination and had reduced neural activity in the area of the brain linked to risk of mental illness, such as depression, than those who walked in a city environment.The researchers noted that these results suggested having access to natural areas may be vital for our mental health.
Some research has shown that even just viewing pictures of nature can activate areas of the brain associated with empathy and altruism while viewing city pictures trigger blood flow to the amygdala, which is associated with fear.
"Shinrin-yoku" is a Japanese term for spending time in the forest. It is said that "forest bathing" benefits physical and mental health because you inhale beneficial bacteria, plant-derived essential oils and negatively charged ions via forest air.
It has been shown that living near nature can extend your lifespan as well. All types of green spaces are shown to be equally beneficial, city parks, agricultural areas, forests, etc.
Some people, me included, feel a pull to spend time in nature. This is because your brain and body is made to sync with nature, sunrise and sunset, changing of seasons, and more. Our brains are not wired for the 24/7 world of today and that is a lot of the reason there is so much illness and chronic disease. The scent of lush earth and the sounds of a "noisy" creek help our body to relax and release and many benefits are realized.
A few more of the many benefits of spending time in nature include: Less pain and better sleep, a better workout, boost your creativity and improve your focus.
Travel nurses and other healthcare travelers can explore your new environment while enjoying nature. If you can't find the information of course you can always look online and find some green space close to you. If you can, try to spend a few minutes outdoors each day. It can be as simple as a quick walk down a tree lined street or having lunch outdoors in a park or by a lake. When you can spend more time go for a hike in nature. It's one of the best adventures I've found.
Mary Crawford, HealthCare Employment Network
