Spending time outside provides us with the Positive Effects of Nature. Being in Nature helps me to clear my mind, come up with ideas, and put things into perspective.
However, there was a time when my negative thoughts consumed me. In other words, I didn’t appreciate anything around me, and it was as if I was blinkered as I walked the dogs.
Our brain becomes so focused on our thoughts as a reality, that it can’t see the beauty around us.
“If one truly loves nature, one finds beauty everywhere” – Vincent Van Gogh
Nature, a Natural Stress Reliever
Back in 2020, the television programme ‘Trust Me I’m A Doctor’ aired an episode in series 9 about the how spending time in nature can benefit our health. This episode resonated me and of course was around the time we then went into lockdown.
In the episode, the late Dr Michael Mosley shared the results of recent research, as well as his own study. A study had been carried out by Universities of Edinburgh and Exeter with around 20,000 people, who were asked to spend 120minutes a week in greenspace. There were significant reductions in salivary cortisol – a marker of stress, blood pressure and heart rate, which reduces your risk of heart disease.
Dr Mosley’s study was with 15 volunteers split in two groups, over a three-week study.
The first group spending less than two hours a week in Nature, the second group spending more than two hours.
They spent their time in their lunch break either sitting, relaxing or a gentle stroll outside in Nature.
A questionnaire was completed before and after being outside, measuring positive emotion, arousal, and stress levels.
At the beginning and end of the experiment, the participants filled out questionnaires which assessed their overall wellbeing and their stress.
Also, their cortisol levels were measured in their saliva and their heart rate variability was measured.
“The aim was to test whether time in nature had a causal effect on wellbeing, stress and mood.”
The Results
The participants felt more energised, more positive, and increased arousal after spending time in Nature.
Most importantly, those who spent 120 mins or more in Nature per week, saw an incredible 30% reduction in perceived stress! Whereas, those who spent less than 120 mins in Nature per week did not see a significant drop in stress.
Slight improvements were also seen in patterns of cortisol levels across the groups.
There was no indication of heart rate variability; a larger group may have shown a difference.
The Positive Effects of Nature really is a Natural Stress Reliever.
Rain is No Excuse!
The weather did not make a difference to the results of Dr Mosley’s study either.
I’ve had many clients mention how they feel better when the sun is out and its dry and how low they feel when it’s raining. This shouldn’t be the case. Rain is No Excuse; scientific reasons show it is good for your body and mind, making you happier and healthier!
A recent article published by Derek Brockway for BBC News, highlights how a rainy day can be good for us, boosting our mood, relieving stress, and boosting our energy.
Scientists are researching the effects of negative ions, which are created near moving water and are odourless, invisible molecules. For instance, they are formed from Rain, waterfalls, waves, and the morning dew and mist.
Dr Niek Buurma, of Cardiff University’s School of Chemistry, discovered when water molecules hit a hard surface they break up into smaller drops and pick up a charge.
“That charge, if it’s negative, has additional electrons and those additional electrons can be picked up by molecules in the air, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide and that’s how the negative ions are formed.
There are quite a lot of scientific studies that suggest that inhaling these negative ions has a positive effect on your health.
There is a lot more research to be done because nobody understands exactly why it works. But there does seem to be a correlation.” said Dr Buurma.
Maybe because the air is cleaner during rainfall, due to the raindrops cleansing dirty particles out of the atmosphere? Remember, Rain is No Excuse! It promotes the Positive Effects of Nature.
Calming Sounds and Smells of Nature
Nature blesses us with some wonderfully relaxing sounds and delightful smells. Nature can actually change our brain activity by calming our busy Beta brain waves. Listening to the beautiful birdsong or wind whistling through the trees. The power of taking a few minutes rest during the day, lets your brain process, and will improve your performance.
Take a moment to do some Grounding when you are out in Nature so you can become less engaged with your thoughts and move your attention outwards. Look, feel, hear, smell, taste, and be positive in the moment.
After rainfall there is a distinctive earthy smell called Petrichor. This includes a chemical call Geosmin which is made by bacteria in soil. By inhaling Geosmin, as well as the antimicrobial chemicals released by plants, called phytoncides, they can have a calming effect on our mood.
I always find the smell of certain flowers is more pungent after rainfall, for example the Elderflowers. To sum up, Rain is No Excuse as it has many benefits to our mental health.
No Excuses
The Positive Effects of Nature makes up some of our Five Steps to Wellbeing.
Nature also ticks the boxes of the Importance of Positives, releasing the Positive Neurotransmitters. Calming our negative Thoughts, being Active, Interacting with others when out for a walk, giving you Purpose, and Pleasure whilst being outside.
There are No Excuses, being out in Nature is free and it is in abundance. Moving More Helps our Mental Health, by reducing stress and anxiety, and improving our sleep.
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