4 Ways Nature Calms Your Anxiety
nature footage: captured by yours truly on a trip to Olympic National Park.
If you’re like me, the urge to get caught up in an infamous “doom-scroll” is getting more intense by the week.
Sometimes it’s all I can do to put the phone down and coerce myself into something more productive.
Something that will counteract all of the stress and anxiety that is being hurled at us 24/7.
Something that doesn’t involve a screen.
(side note: have you ever taken inventory of the percentage of your daily life is filled with a screen of some sort? The results might alarm you.)
Because when I get to the point where my mind is a whirling dervish of negativity… I know nothing great can come of it.
And that’s when I know it’s time.
Time to get outside.
I’ve always had the instinct to get outside when I’m feeling extra tense - but apparently there is actual science to back up why we feel better when we’re enjoying the outdoors.
And, since we are biologically predisposed to be outside - it makes sense why communing in our natural habitat can regulate our stressed out nervous systems.
I did a little bit of reading, and found my favorite 4 Ways Nature Calms Your Anxiety:
Listening to rustling leaves, birdsong and running water lowers your heart rate
Feeling the repetitive rocking motion of water calms your nervous system
Smelling pine, lavender and fresh rain triggers your brain to relax
Looking at a natural landscape reduces mental fatigue and overstimulation
And since the only thing better than being in nature is being in nature and hearing beautiful music (completely my own opinion) - I’ve added some flute melodies to the mix in the short video above.
I hope you enjoy these reminders - and that they encourage you to make time to get outside this month.
Hey - it’s great to see you here. :)
If you’re enjoying this nature music content, be sure to sign up for my monthly email updates so you’ll never miss a thing!