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5 Health Benefits of Nature Travel

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And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul - John Muir

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.

Health Benefits of Nature Travel

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

  1. 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.

    1. 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!

  2. 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

    1. Looks like Talakona Falls and Ooty was just what the doc ordered. Glad you could soak in the beauty and peace of this place πŸ™‚

    1. Amen to that!! We all need this nature therapy from time to time, it’s good for our mind, body and soul!

  3. 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,

    1. True that. After the initial irritation, one resigns to the fact and starts soaking in the beauty and peace of the nature!

  4. 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!

  5. 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 πŸ™‚

    Ronel visiting from the A-Z Challenge. Latest post at Ronel the Mythmaker

    1. 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.

  6. 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 ..

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

    1. 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!

  9. 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!

    1. Absolutely, nature does not require man to survive. . ..but man can not even exist without the help of nature!

  10. 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 !

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