We’re talking N as in Nature! With cold and flu season upon us, as well as still battling this pandemic thing, I feel like all I’m seeing is the importance of vitamins, and how supplements are “the key” to battling a host of pathogens. I have neighbors who swear by high doses of Vitamin C. My sister counts on Zinc and Vitamin D. Others I know have put together a veritable “alphabet cocktail” of vitamins (some C, a B complex, add in some E…).
Now that it’s winter here, and we are seeing temperatures dip lower and lower, and COVID19 numbers grow higher and higher, it seems comfortable to “hibernate” through the winter. Cuddle up under a blanket with a hot cup of tea and binge Netflix until the sun decides to thaw the deep freeze out there. Not gonna lie- that sounds like a great option. And a great way to do some self care (make an herbal tea with some nettles, curl up with a book, warm fuzzy blanket… heavenly). This time of year is great for hunkering down and doing some introspection (we’ll visit that in a later blog post).
But what about your dose of Vitamin N? The winter hardly seems a time to indulge in Nature; it seems so foreboding and harsh, especially for a summer girl like me. Adding 15 layers of warm clothes and still shivering, bare trees, little to no wildlife- what’s the point?
There’s a plethora of research showing the wealth of benefits that some time in nature affords us. Bratman et al showed that a relatively short time spent on a nature walk (50 minutes) decreased anxiety and rumination, increased positivity, and increased working memory. Kaplan showed how nature helps with attention skills and stress management. Shanahan et al showed that time spent in nature could improve depression and high blood pressure.
There are also a host of research articles touting the ability of a nature walk or forest bathing to boost immune system function: here, here, and here are just a small sample.
Okay, so it’s important. And good for us. So how do we do this (it’s so cold out there, and uncomfortable! And I’m in these fleecy jammies and another episode of my show just started…)?
Well, my first piece of advice is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Check out my post on that if you need some help. The biggest challenge here is just getting up off the couch and having the willpower to get all those layers on. Because really, once you’re outside and drinking in that fresh air, you’ll find it quite enjoyable. The big hurdle is just to get moving. Everything after that is a piece of cake.
You’ll have to figure out a place to go that affords you the ability to be in nature. Yes, a walk around the block or to a local park will work, but if cars and people and noise abound, it all drowns out that quiet whisper of the natural experience. Where can you go to listen to quiet? To unplug from electronics? To hear the calm whispers of nature that drown out the bustle of daily life? This is where the real benefits are found.
I tend to be quite reticent to step outside, particularly if the temperatures are below freezing. But we recently planned a trip to a remote cabin in the Adirondacks for a week, specifically because I was feeling the effects of too much modern world and not enough God-created Earth. Yes, it was cold. But it was invigorating, and walking in the forest, hearing the crunch of new-fallen snow, and the silence and stillness of winter, made my body and soul so happy! I had super energy for a full week after those days of nature walks. My heart and lungs felt stronger. My vision felt crisper. My head was clear and thoughts were less circular, more focused. I felt that my winter stagnation was gone, and replaced by a purposeful moving forward.
Make a plan. Set a goal to spend 45 minutes or more within nature this week. Find a place away from all the man made noise and hardness and chatter. Where can you go to drink in some nature and nourish your stagnant winter self?
Need ideas? Having trouble finding your way? I can help! Schedule a visit and we can bat around some ideas to create a plan that will work for you!
Blessings,
Melanie
