We have all experienced happiness after a stroll on the beach or a long walk amidst the trees. A wave of peace and calm engulfs us when we reach a mountain or a hill top (I am remembering my trip to Assam ). Is it just that we are spending time away from the regular routine that de-stresses us? It appears that there is science behind these happy feelings.
In Japan, they call it shinrin-yoku – which means “forest bathing.” It is believed that spending time in the forest and natural areas is good preventative medicine, since it lowers stress, which causes or exacerbates some of our most intractable health issues.
Let me share the benefits of being in the nature especially when traveling which has been proved by science.
1. Nature Travel Increases Attention Span
It’s official: Living in a city is bad for your brain as is found in a research by University of Michigan scientists. The team of psychologists found that being in an urban environment depresses memory performance and attention spans. This study explored the cognitive benefits of interacting with nature and found that walking in a park in any season, or even viewing pictures of nature, can help improve memory and attention.
Since in kids the Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is on the rise, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign show that children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD concentrate better and have a general reduction of symptoms after spending time in nature.
2. Nature Travel Boosts Creativity
A date with the nature helps to improve and boost creativity and that too, – by up to 50 percent. According to a University of Kansas study, these benefits peak after about three days of really getting away, turning off the cell phone, not hauling the iPad and not looking for internet coverage. An extended period of time surrounded by the softly fascinating environment showed the positive effects on how your mind works.
3. Nature Travel Inspires Awe which is Good for You
Looking at the incomprehensibly beautiful offerings of our earth gives us a feeling of magic, wonder and awe. A Stanford study linked awe to improved patience, increased interest in helping other people, and greater life satisfaction.
4. Nature Travel Improves your Mood and Energizes You
We go for vacation to get away from the grind and to relax and rejuvenate. And we know that travel helps us achieve just that and this has been proven by the researchers at the University of Rochester . They found a direct link between time in nature and increased energy and vitality, even when controlling for the benefits of exercise.
5. Nature Travel Provides Natural Antibiotics
We spend most of the time indoors with no exposure to sunlight and fresh air. Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are still the best for our bodies. A study by the World Health Organization found that adequate sunlight exposure lowers the incidence of major musculoskeletal disorders, autoimmune diseases, and some types of cancers.
Hope these scientific studies have convinced you to reconnect with nature more often to reap a wealth of mental and physical benefits. Have you undertaken nature travel/holidays? Where? And how did it affect you physically and mentally?
60 Responses
I love the walking among the trees for healing bit the best in this post; What an image it draws in my mind. I have this green oasis near my house where I love to escape to for a bit whenever I am a little stressed. Works wonders for me everytime! So next time I am going to call ins walking among the trees 😉
N is for Night Circus #atozchallenge
Enjoy your walks among the trees, Shalini. They are truly relaxing and therapeutic!
You have given great reasons for Nature Travel or forest bathing, which btw is a favourite concept of mine. I think the best reason to indulge in this is because it makes one feel soooo good. Another fabulous post from you Shilpaa.
Yes, it’s called Forest Bathing too and we sometimes use it as a part of training as well. In this participants are encouraged to walk in the woods and listen to the sounds, observe, smell and try to practice inner, deep listening and quiet, awareness and mindfulness. Thanks Kalpanaa! Glad you enjoyed reading this post!
Nature travel? I don’t know. (Want to say something funny, But don’t want to.)
And what is that you want to say, SG? Please do share 🙂
Last year we went to Bhutan and there we experienced everything that you mentioned in your post. We just didn’t feel like coming back to our city life.
https://trinalooksback.com/2018/04/16/nani/
Wow, that’s so awesome, Balaka 🙂
This is so on point. I was in Cameron highlands this month, and felt absolutely rejuvenated. Green is the best tonic.
Yes, green is the best tonic, indeed!
One awesome read
Tongue Twister for N
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Thanks Mrs Dash!
I was put on this planet to partake in Shinrin-yoku (forest-bathing). I know that. If I hadn’t found love and gotten married, I’d be roaming the forests and mountains somewhere all the time:)
M is for Mawphlang
Aha! That’s interesting!! 😀
Great post! Traveling into nature certainly boost our health both mentally and physically.
Well said. Thanks Kishor!
I love nature walks shilpa,where ever i travelled I would always look for greenery and steal some time to just go around feeling the breeze, its a great feeling to be surrounded with nature… attempted to take my daughter to natural forest.. Talakona falls which is surrounded by plenty of monkeys and you can hear different sounds, my daughter got frightened:) another time I went towards OOty i forget the name… same issue with my daughter… I loved solitude… Lovely image and what inspiring quote by John Mueir
Looks like Talakona Falls and Ooty was just what the doc ordered. Glad you could soak in the beauty and peace of this place 🙂
I need this… Nature walks, across woods and streams.. Wow sounds awesome. It relaxes the mind and has its own power to rejuvenate a person!!
Amen to that!! We all need this nature therapy from time to time, it’s good for our mind, body and soul!
I so agree with the points you mentioned, Shilpa. The added advantage of Nature Travel is almost always these places don’t have mobile networks so your complete concentration is on the sounds and sights around you,
True that. After the initial irritation, one resigns to the fact and starts soaking in the beauty and peace of the nature!
Hello Shilpa! Being a nature lover myself, I like the theme of this post. Even if I am busy the whole day, in the nighttime, I make sure that I take a walk in my garden, sit on the swing, listen to the “night”sounds, and feel peace seeping into me. It’s a holy ritual for me. Nice post!
I love your daily date with the nature, Sapna. It must be truly relaxing and rejuvenating!
Staying in the concrete jungle, nature walks is what we all need. Hope to start with small walks at the night.
https://www.rohankachalia.com/2018/04/new-hairstyle-day-14-atozchallenge/
Do that, Rohan, in fact, I must do that too 🙂
Great post. I love nature walks and planning holidays around places with forests — or at least great gardens. I really do feel the peaceful effect of nature when I take an evening stroll with my dogs in the garden. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ronel visiting from the A-Z Challenge. Latest post at Ronel the Mythmaker
Love that you spend so much time with nature. Walking with dogs outdoors is the best exercise not only for the dogs but for ourselves too. Thanks for visiting, Ronel.
A wonderful post. I have experienced all these benefits. Nature is the biggest healer and the best teacher 🙂
Thank you, Purba!
Makes perfect sense to me, Shilpa. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Simon. Glad that this post resonates with you 🙂
Great post Shilpa thank you! Nothing better than being out in Mother Nature! If only we could all get out more and move around and enjoy all the earth has to offer ..
You have said it so well, Susan. If only…
Yes, Yes, Yes … to all of it 🙂 Traveling in nature just feels like the very best 🙂 and i’m so glad you have written about it.
https://lonelycanopyblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/09/royal-hunting-lodge-kila-dalijoda/
Thanks much, Seema!
That first quote says it all: In Nature is where my soul is. If only there weren’t so many crawly things!
Hahaha, but we cant do without these crawlies too. 😀
Nice post Shilpa
Thanks for sharing
Thanks Sachin!
My post today is about Nature too, Shilpa. For after the AtoZ I am working on a mega post about forest bathing. So true that nature cures and restores.
I will be looking forward to your post on Forest Bathing, Vidya 🙂
Being at one with nature is special indeed and something I love to do. I bet I wasn’t the only one who wondered if naturism was going to feature when I saw the title!
Talking of which – My Friend Rosey – N is for Nude!
True, we should all strive to become one with nature and its elements.
Nature travel is the best and much needed especially today when most of us stay at places with buildings and constructions all around us. Nature travel is on the top of my list. Great pointers.
True, we stay indoors- at home and in offices with hardly any time outdoors in the nature. We need to do nature travel more frequently!
I would so love to enjoy a ‘forest bath’, or even a beach bath, for that matter! Am so in love with nature!
Hope you get to do both, Shilpa.
we do a lot of nature walking here in SG. cool breeze, fresh air and the songs of nature are divine to see and hear!
That’s incredible. Deepa. Great going!
Such great and motivating pointers Shilpa. We love hiking, and nature walking. One connects with oneself while spending some time in nature minus phone, laptop and television!
Yes, cutting off from the gadgets and being one with the nature is the key! Thanks Shesha!
I love nature travel. More than anything else it makes me realize that I’m such a small speck in this big world. Makes me more humble.
Absolutely, nature does not require man to survive. . ..but man can not even exist without the help of nature!
This is a very useful and a much needed one regarding travel. Even when we take vacations we end up going to urban locations or crowded places. But as you have rightly said, nature travel has a host of benefits for the mind and soul !
Thanks Sayan!
What a lovely post. I really like being in nature and this post has shown even more benefits. Nice pics as well.
Thank you AJ!
I love walking in the woods. It’s peaceful and relaxing. I’m glad that it is so healthy, too!
Thanks Alice, glad you enjoy your dates with nature 🙂