The therapeutic effects of walking in nature.
In an age and time where everyone is digitally connected, there is a substantial decrease in being connected to nature. It has now become more crucial than ever to take a little digital detox and spend time in nature to simply relax and reconnect with yourself. Whether you are having a bad day, stressful week or going through some personal difficulties, a simple act like walking in nature can have profound benefits for your mental health.
Studies have shown that exposure to natural environments such as sunlight, fresh air can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, walking in mountains, forests, or by the water amplifies the therapeutic effects of walking.
So, here’s a little list of reasons as to why taking a walk on the sunny side with some fresh air can do wonders for your nervous system.
While it is widely known that being in nature helps to reduce stress (by lowering the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone) anxiety (by calming the nervous system) and improve your mood (by increasing serotonin levels), it also helps with other areas of your mind, body and soul. Which we will briefly explore below to give you a little insight into the whys and hows.
1) Increased Creativity and Focus:
Studies have shown that spending time in nature can enhance creativity and problem-solving skills. Spending time in nature can also help improve concentration and attention span, helping you to stay more focused on daily activities and tasks.
2) Enhanced Social Connections:
Specially walking with friends or family in nature can strengthen social bonds, in-person connections (which we tend to lack due to our fast-paced digitally-plugged lives) and provide opportunities for meaningful conversations.
3) Mindfulness and Presence:
The rhythmic motion of walking can also be meditative. As such nature walks can encourage mindfulness, allowing you to focus on the more positive thoughts and moments while reducing the rumination on negative thoughts.
4) Enhanced Positive Emotions:
Nature walks can evoke positive emotions like joy, peace, and gratitude, while lowering that inner voice/negative talks that keeps running in your mind (which is natural and happens to everyone), leading to an overall improvement in mood.
The next time you seek solace, whether over holiday period or over the new year, consider taking your therapy sessions outdoors and letting nature's medicine restore your balance and well-being. We offer outdoor Walk and Talk therapy in the scenic landscape of Lake District surrounded greenery, mountains and lakes. A particularly effective for form of therapy for those who find traditional therapy settings intimidating or benefit from nature's calming effects.
For more information on how Walk and Talk therapy can benefit you, how to join our retreats and more, visit Stone In My Boot.
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