How Time in Nature Makes us Happier, More Creative, and a Better Human
When I think about when I’m at my calmest and most content, it’s usually when I’m closest to nature. So many places around the US are close to our hearts, from the hiking trails near our native Seattle, Washington, to the lakes and rivers in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I feel my best the more time I can spend breathing in the crisp air of the mountains or lounging near a body of water while the warm sun wraps me in its warmth.
So why IS IT that mother nature in all her glory makes us feel so damn good? It’s not just me either- scientists and researchers have proven that mother nature can be one of the best forms of medicine. From reducing anxiety to increasing our attention spans and creativity, and boosting our ability to connect with others, we are physically and mentally healthier the more time we spend in nature. Take a look!
Being in Nature Reduces Stress & Anxiety
Studies out of the US, Finland, and Japan recently compared the health and wellbeing of people who took walks in either a natural space (a park or woodland) versus those who took a stroll in an urban area. In all three studies, participants who took their walk in a natural environment had lower blood pressure and heart rate and reported lower stress levels than those who walked in urban environments. Another study of nearly 1000 Swedish city residents found that the more often a person visited open green spaces, the less often he or she reported stress-related illnesses.
The Japanese call the act of spending time in nature “forest bathing” and prescribe it to everyone. It’s no wonder they have some of the longest lifespans on earth!
How much time is “enough” to experience the physical and mental benefits of nature? Research backs anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours per week, but truly any time you can spend out in nature--even just a short break during your workday--can turn your mood and day around.
Both of our Blue Ridge Mountain AirBnB rentals were designed to help you enjoy being in the outdoors while still feeling like you’re wrapped in luxury. From covered decks to outdoor hot tubs, you can breathe in the fresh mountain air without ever leaving your cabin!
Nature Makes Us Happier
A recent study from the journal Mind, showed that 95% of people experienced a boost in mood after spending time outside, changing from depressed, stressed, and anxious to more calm and balanced. These findings were echoed in a study of over 8,000 people in Frontiers in Psychology that found that those who felt more connected to nature tended to experience more positive mood, vitality, and life satisfaction compared to those less connected to nature. This held true regardless of age or gender!
Though we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to spend all your time at the cabin, both Douthit and Rosiey are close enough to hundreds of hiking trails, waterfalls, lakes, and rivers if you want to spend more time in the great outdoors. Check out our blog post on the top hiking trails for families, or the top nature spots in Blue Ridge Georgia.
Nature Increases Attention Span Makes us More Creative
If you’re feeling especially burnt out from the ongoing grind of life and work, a retreat to the mountains is just what you need to refresh and reset.
Time in nature increases our ability to focus on what is in front of us. Studies with children with ADHD showed that time spent in nature increased childrens’ attention span later on.
Being in nature also provides a respite for our overactive minds that are used to being in modern, information overload environments. When we enter into nature (especially without a cell phone in tow), it refreshes us for new tasks and frees our minds up for creative tasks. David L. Strayer, a researcher from the University of Utah, explains that when we use our cell phones to talk, text, shoot photos, or whatever else we use our cell phones for, that we’re overusing our prefrontal cortex and reducing our cognitive resources. “If you’ve been using your brain to multitask—as most of us do most of the day—and then you set that aside and go on a walk, without all of the gadgets, you’ve let the prefrontal cortex recover,” he explains. “And that’s when we see these bursts in creativity, problem-solving, and feelings of well-being.”
It’s no wonder us humans are the best versions of ourselves after some time spent in the great outdoors!