Nurture Through Nature : Why the Outdoors is Good for Your Mental Health

We were both lucky enough to have access to the great outdoors growing up, complete with rolling hills and leafy woodland. Christian’s childhood was spent here in the Surrey Hills, in a sleepy village at the foot of Leith Hill, whilst Beckie’s younger years and outdoor adventures were in northern Italy, in the woodlands around Lake Maggiore. It’s why we feel most at home in our boots enjoying the simple sounds of a crackling fire or leaves rustling underfoot.

 

 

Over the years, our society has provided a plethora of ever-changing digital distractions, causing so many of us to become increasingly disconnected from nature.  Our world is shaped by eight hour working days, and it is now widely acknowledged that this disconnect can have a negative impact on our well-being.

 

In this fast-paced technological world it’s all too easy to become glued to our screens. As a result, our attention span gets shorter. After a busy day at work, there is an almost irresistible temptation to flop onto the sofa and switch on Netflix. That may sound relaxing, but is it really the best recipe for good mental health? How do we get the balance right?

 

Most of us instinctively know that nature is good for us, and the science is gradually getting to grips with how this works. Switching screens for trees could be the answer, as recent studies continuously show that spending time in nature has a hugely positive affect on  physical and mental health. In today’s mental health epidemic, we know we need to find ways to regularly connect with nature, to use the lichen, leaves, flowers and fungi as a tonic for our weary body and mind.

 

In 1980 the practise of Shirin Yoku – or ‘Forest Bathing’ – began in Japan. It denotes the act of spending time in a natural setting and immersing yourself in its atmosphere. Forest Bathing is a meditative practice that involves turning off your digital devices for an hour or two and walking through the woods. Find a suitable spot to settle down on a log and try to attune your senses to the sights, smells and sounds of the forest.

 

 

If a spot of forest bathing isn’t really your thing then there are numerous other ways you can reconnect with nature.

Why not leave your phone at home and try one of the following ideas:

1. Buy or rent a book on plant and tree species and take it on a walk, so that you can try to identify the different varieties you see.
2. Start a nature journal. Bring along a notebook to record your sightings and any thoughts, feelings or observations you have. You can even get creative and include some sketches.
3. Wildlife spotting is a wonderful way to focus on the present. Try spotting birds, insects and mammals whilst out in the forest. Take binoculars for the best results.
4. Grow your own. Digging and cultivating a vegetable patch in your garden will encourage you to spend more time outdoors and give you a wonderful sense of satisfaction when your first crop comes in.
5. Cook over fire. Here at The Salt Box we’re all about the flames, whatever the weather. So why not take a leaf out of our book and organise an autumnal woodland gathering complete with a crackling fire and delicious food.

 

If you’ve taken a look through our events calendar, you’ll know that our business focuses strongly on the coming together of people in the great outdoors – with a range of outdoor activities where guests can feel at peace in the natural landscape of the woods.  Take our Family Wild Things workshop, for example. This day out includes cookery workshops around the fire, bushcraft and natural crafts. There couldn’t be a better way to enjoy a spot of mindfulness beneath the trees. This autumn, we’re holding an event in collaboration with Surrey Art School, where we’ll be taking a mindful walk through the woods to gather inspiration and forage for leaves, pine cones and then – we’ll return to the barn for a cosy creative botanical pen and wash workshop. We have so many guests exclaim how they leave our events feeling calm and connected to our natural world and the seasons.

Next time you reach for that remote, think about throwing on your coat instead and doing your soul a favour by getting outdoors. Research tells us that our natural world has a calming effect on everything from blood pressure to stress hormones.

Become engrossed in the natural world around you, looking for birds, insects and plants wherever you go. So why not take a leaf out of our book and try to bring a little more nature into your life. Stop. Look. Listen. There’s no doubt you won’t regret it.

 

#FEASTINSPIREREWILD