April is Stress Awareness Month

In today’s hectic climate, feeling stressed is all too common. With worldwide tense events, rising energy prices and violence, it’s no wonder many of us are may have a hard time managing the pressure outside of our personal challenges at home and at work. In a recent global Gallup survey, as many as four in 10 adults worldwide said they experienced a lot of worry or stress on a regular basis. While a certain amount of stress can be healthy, minimizing chronic anxiety should be a priority. 

There is plenty of advice out there about the benefits of meditation, drinking tea, learning new breathing techniques, taking baths. Those can all be helpful of course, but few things are as beneficial for our well-being a getting in touch with nature. According to a 2019 Frontiers in Psychology -study, spending just 20 minutes a day outside can help lower stress hormone levels. 

Whatever you call it – forest bathing, ecotherapy, mindfulness in nature, green time or the wilderness cure – humans evolved in the great outdoor and our brains benefit from a journey back. While not everyone lives in an area that’s surrounded by dense woods, there are things you can do to feel the benefit of nature whether you live in the city, town or countryside. Walking in a park or garden is also a great way to exercise, and with spring and summer around the corner, the number of beautiful days is growing. 

Unlike most of our daily tasks, spending time outdoors does not require a task-specific, problem-solving approach. Instead we can enjoy our experience in nature and be rejuvenated by taking in the sights and sounds at a relaxed pace, leading to reduced stress and anxiety. Even a short nature walk can have a calming and restorative effect on the mind. Start tod