I am an avid walker and I prefer to walk outdoors. There’s something about being out in the fresh air, walking briskly, listening to the sounds of nature that makes me really come alive. I came across an article on facebook today that totally reinforces this idea. The article is entitled,
“How Nature Can Make You Kinder, Happier, and More Creative” by Jill Suttie, Psy.D., who is Greater Good‘s book review editor and a frequent contributor to the magazine. Here’s the link to the article.
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_nature_makes_you_kinder_happier_more_creative
Here are a few tidbits from the article.
- Nature makes you happier
- Nature increases your creativity
- Nature makes you feel more invigorated
- Nature gives you energy
- Being out in nature reduces stress and anxiety
“People have been discussing their profound experiences in nature for the last several 100 years—from Thoreau to John Muir to many other writers,” says researcher David Strayer, of the University of Utah. “Now we are seeing changes in the brain and changes in the body that suggest we are physically and mentally more healthy when we are interacting with nature.” For me, being out in nature is therapeutic, energizing and restorative. I set an intention to walk 5-6 days per week, for at least three miles. I don’t achieve my goal every day but I do come close and give myself an A for effort.
What about you? How often do you get out in nature? What do you do for stress relief? How can spending time in nature increase your creativity? How can you engage all of your senses when you are walking in nature? Please share your thoughts with me, I would love to hear how being in nature impacts your life!
What a beautiful picture you paint Deborah! I love seeing all of the green shoots bursting through the earth. New growth, rebirth, Spring is here! Thanks for your comments:)
I love when winter’s ice and snow disappear and walking becomes so much more inviting to me. And Spring is my very favorite time – so much goodness and beauty is popping all over the place it seems that there’s so much to see I could spend all day just walking around the block. The luminous green that Spring dresses the leaves with practically breaks my heart open in joy.
Thanks for your comments Elda! It’s always great to hear from you:)
I agree, a walk out in nature rejuvenates my spirit. I started tweeting a daily #naturephoto and then it got cold again so I stopped. I will get back to it. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Naomi. What a special time for you and your daughter each day:)
Thanks for your comments Kelly. Glad to hear you’re feeling good enough to get out and walk again. Here’s to getting out there and putting on some miles this week:)
I enjoy just sitting in a window looking out at nature. My morning walk to school with my daughter is fun too because she keeps me in the present moment.
Having been laid flat for 4 or 5 days with the flu, it was with great delight that I managed to get back outside with Poppy, my dog, for the briefest of walks. Once I hit the trail, my foggy head cleared and I could feel my lungs expanding. I’m with you. Try to walk 10,000 steps with her every day and when I can’t, the world shifts and things seem off kilter. Last week, I recorded an horrific 7,000 max. Max. Here’s hoping this week racks up the mileage for us both.
Thanks for sharing my post Amy! Happy walking to you!
Thanks for your comments Kimberly. Thinking of you today as you are walking in nature:)
I love walking too, Nancy. I shared this post in my Tao Te Ching Daily page.
Thank you for this Nancy. I do just love walking. I haven’t been making it a routine lately, but wish I was. I know how much it enhances my life. I’ll be thinking of you today when I walk, instead of drive, across town to the farmers market event.