Postcards from the UK countryside
janaline's world journey

Why Nature is Good for the Soul

Why Nature is Good for the Soul
Just going for a scenic drive along the coast can be rejuvenating

Being out in nature is not only good for your physical health, it is also very beneficial for your mental health. Have you noticed how grumpy people get in winter compared to their mood during spring and summer? I think it is because we don’t always get out into nature during winter and that this affects our mental health negatively.

Here are some reasons why nature is good for your soul.

Why Nature is Good for the Soul
Why Nature is Good for the Soul
Why Nature is Good for the Soul
Why Nature is Good for the Soul
Why Nature is Good for the Soul

1. Nature helps to center your mind

If we don’t watch out we are constantly glancing at your to-do list or worrying about, our finances, our relationships, or something else. It seems like we constantly have a never-ending list of things to do. We need to make it a point to give ourselves a cognitive break by distracting ourselves with the sights and sounds of the outdoors. Watch and listen to the birds chirping, the waves crashing, the trees swaying in the wind, and the bugs moving around you. Taking at least a 30min break a day will help improve our mental health.

Walk among the blossoms
Why Nature is Good for the Soul
Why Nature is Good for the Soul

2. Unplug and Escape the technological trap.

Multi-tasking, particularly with electronic devices, is a leading cause of stress. Breaking free from the never-ending loop of your Facebook or Instagram newsfeed should be a top reason for getting outdoors. After all, staring at screens too long can hurt your eyes and strain your neck, and it’s often a sedentary activity. Nature, on the other hand, offers a beautiful window into real life. Put down your phone. leave your devices behind and head into nature and just enjoy the calming effect this will have. Nature allows us to to leave the stressors of our everyday lives behind and instead focus our minds on something more pure. By centering your mind, you can relax your body.

Why Nature is Good for the Soul
Why Nature is Good for the Soul
Why Nature is Good for the Soul
Why Nature is Good for the Soul
Why Nature is Good for the Soul

3. It Lowers Stress Hormone Levels

It’s true that many of us don’t realize how highly strung we’ve become until we take a step back from it all, let go of the pen welded to our fingers, and tell our shoulders to come back down from our ears.

A recent Dutch study suggests that spending time in nature and performing repetitive tasks such as gardening can fight stress better than other leisure activities.

In Japan, this has really caught on and forest bathing is now an official stress management activity. Research into the effects of these au naturel excursions has found a significant decrease in anger, anxiety, and depression, as well as better immune function.

4. Nature Heightens the Senses and Memory

Spending time outdoors can actually strengthen your senses and memory. When in nature, you’re exposed to plenty of sights, smells, sounds, and touches and have ample amounts of new things to take in.

These experiences help enhance all your senses, and being outdoors has also been proven to improve short term memory. You don’t need to spend hours outdoors even short periods of time are very beneficial.

Rathmullan, situated in County Donegal, Ireland
Rathmullan, situated in County Donegal, Ireland
Rathmullan, situated in County Donegal, Ireland

5. Learn something new.

Walking around and exploring your surroundings is an excellent opportunity to learn something new about the world. We often take things for granted and it’s only when we look around us that we notice how little we know about the world. What’s the name of that flower that you see around the corner every day? What sort of tree grows along the path you are on? And what do you call that critter that scooted across the road this morning? After a walk, Google what you saw or take out books from the library on flowers, trees, or animals to find answers. You can also arrange for walking tours with experts or visit local botanic gardens that have informative signs. Then when you go for walks with others at a later date, you can wow them with your newfound knowledge.

Rathmullan, situated in County Donegal, Ireland
Rathmullan, situated in County Donegal, Ireland
Rathmullan, situated in County Donegal, Ireland
Rathmullan, situated in County Donegal, Ireland

6. Nature can help you keep it together

It’s all too easy to get caught in a busy cycle of working non-stop and not taking breaks to go outside, relax for a moment, and breathe in some fresh air. But having a good work/life balance is crucial if you want to have a long, happy existence.

Nature is the glue that can help you keep it together in this increasingly noisy world, as research shows that it can improve both your mental and physical health. No matter how far you feel like travelling, you can always spend at least a little time in nature each day. Whether you take a short, 10-minute walk around your neighborhood or a one-hour stroll along a trail in the woods, getting outside more often is a wonderful first step toward living an even healthier life.

Postcards from the UK countryside
Postcards from the UK countryside

58 comments

  3. At first, I didn’t recognize the name of your blog. But as soon as I saw you, arms wide, leaning out of a stone wall, I remembered.

    Now I want to go to Cape Hope. I never considered it might be a park. Thanks for the tour.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I am so glad some part of my blog or me has stayed in peoples memory!! I have been quiet for a while, but am back, eventhough I can not travel at the moment. I am getting time to go through all my travel photos and write a bit about my adventure here in China where I have been living for the past 2 years.

      Like

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  9. I loved your post. Nature is great way to connect with the outside world. The world is so small yet there is so much to discover and explore. It’s tempting for someone of to just stay at home and watch Netflix and binge watch our favorite tv shows. But it’s very important to connect with nature. Like taking a walk and going for a jog in the park, do hiking or any water adventures. It gives us the thrill of life and gives a mind a relief from all the stress. It’s when we spend more quality time with nature, we appreciate the world we live and notice how beautiful it is. So go out and explore 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  26. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful post, Janaline 🙂

    I could totally relate to your philosophy on travel and I thoroughly enjoys my time close to nature…

    During my five years of blogging journey, I took many turns and deviated from the original plan of sharing my travel stories and limited it to a photo blog…

    Your blog is one of the first one I started following and remains an inspiration to go back and revisit my original plan to share as much information and personal experiences as possible to make it useful for people who drops by.

    Thanks again and have a beautiful day 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you so much for that beautiful compliment Sreejith!! It is true that every now and again we do forget why we started something. And returning to our original plans is sometimes a challenge, just as it is sometimes difficult to keep up with our blogs when things get very busy.

      Lately I have been so busy that I have been neglecting my blog and as I read these comments I am reminded at how much joy I get from sharing my travels.
      Thank you very much, and I hope you have a very beautiful day!!.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • With the wind in Cape Town it definitely feels like you are able to take off some day.
      Thank you so much, I do love spending time outside and exploring new places, and get just as much fun by sharing these experiences with everyone.
      Hope you have a fabulous day!

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      Reply

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