The impact of nature on our well being

Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I wore the title of “city girl” with pride.

Infact, the brief period of time when I lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (a small Amish town, saturated with farmland, on the east coast of America), was almost embarrassing for me to mention as it didn’t fit the image I had of me.

Living and identifying with the city life was a part of my personality trait. I told myself I’m progressive, a hustler, quick, badass and free— everything only a city girl could identify with.

I’m 29 now, and boy, have I learned a lot.

These days (and I know I’m not alone in this), the constant sounds of honking, inhaling of pollution and the general rushed culture of the city I currently live in is, quite simply, getting on my last nerves.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been a city girl my whole life, so there’s definitely many attachments with city life that will probably remain with me forever.

But lately, finding blue skies and fresh air, is my new drug of choice.

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been on my own in a bustling environment for so long or because access to nature is becoming exceedingly difficult as we continue to exploit the planet, but on most days I dream of spending more time in the forest, by the ocean or on a mountain.

I think of my childhood, where butterflies were abundant and walking barefoot on the grass while playing outside was a routine—there was a magic in that, one I haven’t felt in a long time.

When we are allowed the privilege of travel, my husband and I always prioritise location, attempting to seek out places that keep us grounded to the earth and breathing freely (literally).

The last time I walked barefoot on the beach for a week, I came home completely rejuvenated, the kind of refuelling I never expected, by simply staying close to the sea.

So is there more research on this? Is there a connection between spending more time in nature and our general well being?

Here’s what I found out—

According to a study, “A growing body of epidemiological evidence indicates that greater exposure to, or ‘contact with’, natural environments (such as parks, woodlands and beaches) is associated with better health and well-being,” and being closer to natural environments is connected to a decrease in cardiovascular disease, obesity, asthma hospitalizations, obesity and mental distress.

Another study, “found evidence for associations between exposure to nature and improved cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, mental health, physical activity, and sleep.”

And besides the health benefits, there is evidence that just a little time in fresh air can increase empathy and cooperation.

Plus, when we live in harmony with nature, nature can in fact flourish. Evidence of this is visible among indigenous people that consider the natural environment worthy of worship–they are crucial contributors in conserving biodiversity.

So that magic of going back to our roots does in fact exist. The yearning we have to get our dose of the elements, pieces of our existence that make life possible in the first place, is infact, really important.

To me, nature allows me a space to just be. And that’s hard to do otherwise.

While we notice that it is becoming increasingly essential in this fast paced world to make room for a quality life, being a little more down to earth might be a crucial start.