Nature Knows Best

When the weather is hot and the kids are getting ratty towards the end of school holidays it can be tempting to stay inside with the air conditioning turned up on high watching the Disney channel all day!

Similarly, after a long day at the office dealing with unexpected delays or cranky customers it can be easy to crash on the couch with a glass of wine and the latest episode of Bridgerton. 

But scientists are now recognising the importance that getting outside into lush green (or blue) natural surroundings plays in our overall health. Recent studies have found that living in and visiting green outdoor spaces for a minimum of 30 minutes a week can significantly reduce your blood pressure and your cortisol (a stress hormone) levels. 

A Stanford study compared brain scans of participants who walked for 90 minutes in a natural environment to those who walked for the same length of time in an urban built-up area with lots of hustle and bustle. They found that mental rumination patterns in the prefrontal cortex that are associated with negative thinking and mental illness were much lower in those participants who walked in nature. 

Children and teens who are regularly engaged in natural outdoor play or learning have significantly better overall mental health, stress levels and resilience long term. 

GET STARTED:

Maybe have a go at planting a vegetable patch in that overgrown corner of your garden, or going for a swim at the beach? Plan your next weekend adventure in one of the fantastic nature reserves on our doorstep like Star Swamp and Bold Park or pack a picnic and go to Matilda Bay for the day. Simply walking barefoot on the grass and watering your garden…

We are so blessed in Perth to have lots of green spaces in our local suburbs too. Where is your favourite place to get outside and enjoy nature? 

Sources

Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112(28), 8567–8572. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1510459112

Shuda, Q., Bougoulias, M. E., & Kass, R. (2020). Effect of nature exposure on perceived and physiologic stress: A systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 53(March). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102514

Tillmann, S., Tobin, D., Avison, W., & Gilliland, J. (2018). Mental health benefits of interactions with nature in children and teenagers: a systematic review. J Epidemiol Community Health, 72, 958–966. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2018-210436