5 easy ways to bring more nature in our lives
By welcoming more nature into our lives, we can alleviate some of the symptoms of our modern day urban living. The effects of spending time in nature have been studied and have been found to reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure and strengthen the immune system.
Especially during these uncertain times caused by the pandemic, we should all try to bring more nature in our lives. Follow these easy tips to feel better on a day-to-day basis.
1. Go for a daily walk: You don’t have to go too far, even the local park would be prefect. By gifting yourself 30 minutes a day to notice a natural scene and by letting your body and mind relax, you can hugely reduce your stress levels and improve your overall wellbeing.
2. Breathe in: Try breathing in the nature around you. Pause to smell the trees, the grass. Trees really do have healing powers. For one thing, they release antimicrobial essential oils, called phytoncides, that protect trees from germs and have a host of health benefits for people. If you don’t have time to go for a walk, try using an essential oil at home like Pine or Cypress.
3. Find a sit spot: Find yourself a spot in nature that you love. Visit your nature spot daily or as often as possible, regardless of the weather. Aim to be there for approximately 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, the nature we disturb by arriving will slowly return and you will soon become part of the natural scene alongside the other beings. This practice will offer greater clarity and focus.
4. Surround yourself with Green: Bring nature to you - onto your desk and into your home. Some studies suggest you can improve productivity by 15% with just a few houseplants nearby. We recommend the Snake Plant or the Aloe, but there are many others, that have calming or air purifying benefits.
5. Listen to the sounds of nature: Be the ocean waves, bird song, rain falling, or the wind through the trees if you have these naturally accessible. If not, then play these sounds through headphones when feeling a bit stressed or before falling asleep.
