Contact with nature – in search of balance

Fancy getting in touch with nature?

A vast majority of us live and work in cities. We are permanently surrounded by walls of glass and concrete and spend almost all day listening to the humming of engines in our cars.

Scientists from Ontario have noticed that polluted air and heavy traffic contribute to pathological changes in our brains. Unfortunately, more and more research confirms the theory that urbanisation is the reason for stress and development of dementia. British journal dedicated to public health, The Lancet, has published statistics which prove that people living close to busy streets run a 12% higher risk of developing dementia.

It works both ways…

Statistics show that green plants in hospital rooms or windows overlooking natural landscape shorten recovery period in patients and significantly improve their mood.

The practice of forest bathing has been very popular since the 1970s in Japan. The idea is to have long walks through a forest. Patients are supposed to spend time in silence, breathe deeply and open all their senses to contact with nature. This strengthens the immune system and lowers blood pressure.

Contact with nature helps calm your nerves and your body. We can hear more and more often about the slow life philosophy which is based on living consciously at your own pace and contemplating nature. We need it to keep our psychophysical constitution in good condition. Listening in on nature sounds helps us quickly recover and calm our nerves, regular contact with nature improves our concentration and reduces tiredness.

Even if we are city dwellers and cannot afford to spend every weekend in a forest, there is still a way to get closer to nature and let our eyes have a rest looking at all the greenery.

• After work take a stroll through a park or along some back streets instead of travelling by public transport.
• Surround yourself with potted plants in the comfort of your home.
• Grow herbs and vegetables in your garden or on the windowsill.
• Change the car for a bike or a walk and choose side streets
• Instead of sipping your coffee in a shopping center, invite your friend for a picnic in the park.
• Take your family outdoors to participate in activities organised in the nearby parks.
• Watch birds, learn to distinguish their singing.
• Change some visits at the gym for jogging along some less busy streets and in parks.

We all dream of replacing office blocks and skyscrapers with trees and street sounds with bird songs. Nature has the power to heal so try to get back to it as often as possible.

Or…Let’s quit everything and flee to the mountains.

 

Photo by Adam Mruk