BENEFITS OF SPENDING TIME WITH NATURE

By: Princy Narang

Engaginglifethoughts.blogspot.com

By just reading the word nature you may start visualizing hills, trees, greenery, colours, landscape, river, forest, sea, fresh air, fragrance of flowers, music of waterfall and birds etc. But despite all this majority of the population either willingly or unwillingly is enclosed in concrete and the tech jungle.

People are busy earning more and more money so that they can easily purchase most of the luxuries like big house, costly cars and all sorts of items/ machines which is said to make life easy and comfortable. All these things give them happiness but in reality this happiness comes with a lot of problems like lethargy, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and various other disorders. These not only effect their physical health but also mental health as it may lead to anxiety disorders, depression etc.

Thus instead of getting used to all the so called luxuries you must start enjoying the real luxury i.e. the nature and natural wonders. Spending time in nature not only makes you feel fresh but it has numerous other benefits too. I am trying to list a few benefits below, however benefits which the nature provides are much more beyond this.

GIVES YOU TRUE HAPPINESS

Stepping out in nature gives a gush of energy, freshness and a happy feeling throughout the body and a smile on face and if you go out with friends or family it’s all the more pleasing. Walking or even observing nature makes you happy by reducing stress, draining out the negative and depressing thoughts and lifting up our mood. This in-turn leads to a happy mind, body & soul.

IMPROVES HEALTH

Going out in open, walking, meditating or even sitting in nature helps in improving health both mental and physical. The various health benefits are given below:-

1. It increases energy: When you go and admire nature’s serenity and beauty you feel all the more energetic and it further leads to flow of positive energy through the body and hence improves health.
2. Walking in nature and enjoying the weather, scenery etc. not only helps in draining out stress but also flush out negative thoughts. Thus making our mind all the more healthy and clear.
3. It also helps in reducing depression and anxiety disorders as it makes you feel relaxed and fresh.
4. While you are outside you are exposed to sunlight, which is a good source of Vit-D and helps in making your bones strong.
5. It steadily increases your stamina and helps in keeping you fit.
6. When you go for walk, you get tired and thus it helps in improving your sleep.
7. If you are ill it helps in your healing process as you are exposed to sunlight, fresh air, oxygen etc
8. Also helps in improving your overall immune system.

INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY

As we have already seen that going out in nature improves mental and physical health and keeps you calm and poised and this further helps in better concentration and better understanding and thus making you more efficient. This in-turn increases the productivity and success rate.

HELPS IN SOCIALIZING

People who go outside tend to make more friends and acquaintances than those who remain confined indoors. This further helps in forming a good group with which you can enjoy and spend time. It also helps in developing social skills which are quite helpful at workplace while working in teams.

GIVES A BREAK FROM TECHNOLOGY

We have become slaves of technology, be it is at home or work place. We are surrounded throughout by gadgets and machines and this has even made our life very mechanical and also very sedentary and unhealthy both mentally and physically. Thus going out for a walk or trekking or any outdoor activity gives us a break from our daily routine and helps in improving our lifestyle.

Nowadays we can see some people, who although work in the city but prefer to live in outskirts so that when at home they can remain close to nature and keep themselves healthy and fit.

DEVELOPS A CLOSE BOND WITH FAMILY

Whenever you spend your time in nature you prefer to do it with your kids, wife and parents and thus it helps in improving the quality of your relationship with them and also gives you great memories which you cherish throughout your life.

INCREASES CREATIVITY

Nature and its beauty give thrust to a person’s creativity. Whenever you are in nature, you embrace its beauty and essence and this increases your power of imagination and creative thinking. For e.g. Nature inspires a painter to paint, a poet to write poem, a decision maker to come up with a creative decision etc just like it inspires me to write up.

MAKES YOU MORE VIGILANT TOWARDS ENVIRONMENT

When you make it a habit to spend some quality time outdoors then you feel yourself greatly connected to nature and then you will not only appreciate its beauty but also help you learn a lot about your surroundings and planet and even makes you more vigilant towards various environmental issues like pollution and thus making you more and more active in giving your contribution towards our mother nature.

Thus it becomes very evident that nature is full of benefits and in order to be benefited we must take our time out to explore nature and try to spend some time outdoors on a regular basis if not daily. This will not only make us happy and healthy but also help in improving the overall quality of life.