Summertime! Everybody is going here and there, in and out of the country, taking pictures with family or friends, breaking away from the stressful world of deadlines and heavy workloads. Our news feeds are flooded with summer getaway pictures and vacation stories. But you know what? Going for hikes, swimming in beaches or rivers, or simply going and walking outside for a fresh air mean more than just what we usually think of.
Getting in touch with nature has many healthful benefits. It can revitalize our mind, body and soul in the following ways, according to an article by the Elite Daily:
(1) Being in nature helps us stay grounded. Yes, you read it right. Walking without our favorite flipflops on the grass, mud or sand helps us connect with the earth. They call it “grounding” or “earthing”. They say it creates positive charge in the body and mind. Besides, connecting with the earth can be relaxing and uplifting.
(2) Research shows nature boosts our mental health. There are scientific studies concluding that spending enough time outside nature can have lasting effects on our health and well-being. Further study conducted in 2009 in the Netherlands showed a significant connection between being with nature and lower rates of depression and anxiety. Everybody would agree that staying away from all our stressors even for a short time period is very helpful to recharge.
(3) Nature promotes healthy alone time and quality family time. We really need a regular ‘alone time’ so that we can have space to reflect and to clear our minds of any external noise. It is beneficial as well to get back in touch with nature together with our family. These things can refresh our perspectives and appreciation for life.
(4) Vitamin D exposure has its own health benefits. The ‘sunshine vitamin’ is important for the normal development of teeth and bones and is also linked to fighting disease.
(5) You feel like a part of something bigger. Being in nature helps us to put things back into perspective and make us feel like part of something bigger. It helps us make sense of the stressful world even for a while. People say, “We don’t live to work, but we work to live.” I would agree to that. We can live life without sacrificing our own happiness. So, whenever we feel like it is time to replenish and destress, be in nature. Spend money and travel around places if you have the option to. Otherwise, you can still go and look around. It is free. Go to the nearest nature park and embrace the coolness of the forest. Take an easy ride, go to the nearest beach and feel the breeze. And for the students, study hard, but also take breaks and be one with nature from time to time.