VIA View: Forest Therapy

As someone who loves walking in nature, but also loves a bit of science and wellbeing thrown into the mix, this book felt absolutely made for me. Sarah Ivens’ Forest Therapy is a beautiful little nature pick-me up (and it actually is a BEAUTIFUL book – big up to Ruth Craddock for all the illustrations that bring it to life!). I may have needed little encouragement but being able to read about the different benefits of embracing nature really did get me thinking, and even more importantly out walking and appreciating the beauty of my surroundings. So, I wanted to share some of the messages that really resonated with me.

Firstly, let’s start by saying that we all know that nature is meant to be good for us, but I don’t think I realised just how good for us it is. Being in nature is known to:

·       Reduce blood pressure and heart rate

·       Restore focus and attention span

·       Improve sleep

·       Strengthen the immune system

·       Increase sensory awareness and perception*

·       Increase self-esteem, empathy, kindness, and compassion

·       Calm the nervous system and relax an overworked brain

*(Does this mean I can park my car better?)

Is it just me that is startled by the wide-reaching effects nature can have? It seems too good to be true. And yet time and again this book shared evidence to back up its findings.

The University of Essex found that people who chose to exercise outdoors for just 5 minutes saw an increase in self-confidence and a lift in their spirits.

In a study on memory conducted by the University of Michigan participants were split into 2 groups. Both groups sat the same memory test but were then asked to go for a walk in different locations. The first group went to an arboretum, whereas group 2 went to the city. On their return they repeated the test and those who went to the city saw no change in their results. Those who had spent their walk in the arboretum improved their score by +20%.

The Public Library of Science explored creative problem solving. Those who were able to immerse themselves in nature for a period of 4 days were found to be able to boost their scores on a creative problem-solving test by as much as 50%.

Health studies conducted by the University of Pittsburgh found post-surgery patients who were exposed to natural light took a lower level of pain medication and went onto have faster recovery times.

There were many more facts and studies shared in the book that all emphasize the importance of including nature in our everyday lives. But how do we do that?

Go for a walk. It’s simple, it’s free, and yet we don’t always make time to do this. I’m going to try and include a 15minute walk into my lunchbreak every day – it feels manageable and will create a new habit.

Pay attention to all senses. Nature gives us an opportunity to see, hear, feel and (yes) smell! Resisting the urge to play a podcast as I head through the woods creates an opportunity to truly pay attention to those beautiful surroundings

Be still. Stop rushing. I feel that life is often rushed through, so why not stop, and sit and simply be in nature. It gives you the opportunity to appreciate the little things that you’d likely miss if you just walked on past! “Forest Therapy” included this quote which really resonated with me “When you spend time alone you get to silence the voices around you and think and decide for yourself who, what and where you want to be”

So, there’s the motivation, there’s tips on what to do… well what about the weather. Perhaps it’s just not a nice day for a walk. Nope! Ivens is able to counter this by showing us how to really embrace all the seasons

The SPRING encourages us to embrace the new. It’s a time for decluttering, including removing toxic friends from our lives if we wish! After the winter we appreciate and embrace the longer days.

Then comes the SUMMER: More sun! And with it better nutrients from fresh fruit and veg. But is it too hot now though? No! Because even more sweat is good for removing toxins!

Then the AUTUMN, or as Keats put it the “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. Those lower temperatures can make this the best time for exercise, then afterwards an excuse to ‘shrink back’ indoors and cosy up with friends.

And lastly the WINTER. How can the shortest days make this time of year feel the longest? But exposure to the cold increases our energy, there are less pesky little creatures (think mosquitoes, midges, ticks) out there to pick on us, and the cold weather actually makes blood vessels work harder giving us a natural glow without reaching for expensive beauty products. And whilst its colour palette isn’t as bright as the Summer, they don’t call it a Winter Wonderland for nothing.

This book truly was a beautiful read and a reminder that whatever the time of year there really are many reasons and ways to embrace our natural world.