BREAKOUT: The Importance of Nature
It’s possible that you’re going to go through this learning circle and hate meditation, find deep breathing annoying, and exercise pointless. At the same time, you may be unable to stand the idea of therapy or medication. So what’s an anxious and/or depressed person to do?
Spend time in nature.
According to Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix, time in natural settings has been shown to be more effective for certain mood disorders than meditation, medication, or therapy. (Please note: we recommend discussing any changes to your mental health care with a professional.) There is also evidence that nature affects people’s longevity; in other words, if you spend more time in and around green spaces, you’re likelier to live longer than those who don’t. (1) [This is true regardless of your socioeconomic background (2)] Even if you don’t live in an area surrounded by trees, exercising outdoors can have beneficial effects: greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. (3)
We appreciate that not everyone has the same access to green spaces, but we encourage you to find ways to take advantage of whatever opportunities you have to experience them, whether that’s a trip to the beach a few times during the summer, a monthly visit to a city park, or a trip to a forest once a year or so.