Write your own prescription for a ‘nature pill’
Credit to Author: Ramya Ramanathan| Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2019 02:42:34 +0000
Take your stress outdoors this spring!
What if there was a free, natural, flexible and convenient remedy for stress? No prescription from a doctor required, no pill to remember to take, no restrictions about where or when to take the remedy, no unrealistic time constraints, not much planning required…would you be interested? I hope so, because stress is massively harmful to our health, especially when it is left unchecked over time. Prolonged elevation of the stress hormone cortisol interferes with memory and learning, it lowers the immune function and bone density, it increases blood pressure, risk for heart disease and weight gain, and it accelerates ageing.
The good news is that such a remedy does exist. Outside, in nature, you have unlimited access to a quick fix that can boost your self-esteem, elevate your mood, trigger the relaxation response and strengthen your immune system to guard against illness.
Using the outdoors for health is not new. Most people will go outside to clear their head or stretch their legs and very quickly feel a benefit from taking such a break. With many children spending less time outside per day than prisoners, and more time plugged in, online, staring at a screen, momentum is gathering to reconnect kids with play and time outside. Absenteeism from work and presenteeism (that is, people physically present at work but disengaged and unproductive) is costing organizations millions of dollars every year. We have an epidemic of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Some companies and non-profit organizations support nature wellbeing programs, such as Mood Walks in Canada, to encourage mental wellbeing and a proactive, affordable solution to reduce the rising costs of healthcare.
You can write your own prescription for a “nature pill” to lower your stress and many healthcare providers in North America are recommending this to motivate people to take a nature break.
An experiment from 2014 that involved a ‘healthy-normal’ sample population of 18 years and above, has proven that 20-30 minutes contact with nature lowers the stress hormone cortisol by 21% per hour. After this time, benefits will continue but at a reduced rate. According to the study led by Dr MaryCarol Hunter at the University of Michigan, USA, contact with nature can be sitting or walking in a place that provides you with a sense of nature. You can choose the green space to suit you. You can adjust the time of day you spend outside – morning, afternoon or early evening – and the days of the week. The only ground rules for the greatest pay-off are:
- No social media/internet/telephone calls/conversation or reading
- Get outside in daylight hours
- No aerobic exercise – aim for low intensity exercise such as walking
Don’t let stress impede your new start or your progress in Canada. Find your urban green space close by and take your stress outside whenever time allows. The Spring season is the ideal time to make this a habit three times a week, with longer daylight hours and milder temperatures. Engage your senses, breathe deeply and feel good about proactively supporting your mental health.