Modern life can leave us feeling stressed, lonely and depressed, but the solutions are sometimes surprisingly simple. A study completed in 2016 found that visiting a park for at least 30 minutes a week could significantly reduce the risk of depression. Scientists in Australia found further evidence of what researchers have been saying for years. Connecting with nature enhances your physical, mental, and social well being.
Getting out into nature is one of the top 5 things I feel helped me in conquering my depression naturally. It’s actually documented that contact with green spaces can increase our levels of joy. Whether it's a fabulous waterfall, a display at the botanical gardens or a simple flower bed outside of our home, we can all appreciate the beauty in our surroundings.
Spending time in parks has been shown to lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of hypertension and heart disease. Being outdoors can motivate you to be more physically active and in turn can help you lose weight and sleep better.
Parks bring people together. Whether people watching or just flying a kite, we can share positive experiences with others. At the park we can work out, eat lunch, attend local events, practice meditation or give back to nature by volunteering to clean up the space. Some parks allow us to join in the gardening of the space. Others have places where we can swim. We can observe wildlife or bring our canine companions to walk and play with. At night we can just take in the wonders of the Universe as we gaze at the stars.
A change in environment can help balance our emotions and feelings of depression. Increasing exposure to green spaces may be all you need to lift your spirits and increase your level of activity.
Love & Light,
Dawn-Marie