Are you feeling stressed out, anxious or depressed? Perhaps you are ruminating over something or worried about a past or future event. There is something very simple that you can do to get yourself out of your head. And that is to be in nature.
We all have a desire to connect, belong, and feel a part of something. When we go into nature we come into contact with something larger than ourselves. If we take in the amazing view, we will stop thinking about our worries. You feel connected to the world and others. Just being in nature has been shown to reduce stress levels.
When you are in the forest there is so much to focus on, it’s as if your eyes don’t know where to go first. Perhaps you notice the brightness of the sky or the rays of sunshine through the trees. You might see the growth of plants, large and small. Maybe there are rocks on the path, and you observe the different shapes, sizes and textures of the rocks. Maybe there is some kind of growth or fungus on it. There may be trees that have fallen, are decaying or have some greenery on it. You might notice little flowers that you have never seen before, or bugs and reptiles going by.
Do you hear any water? Is there a stream nearby? Perhaps is flowing slowly, or quickly. If it’s hot, you may even want to stick your feet in the water to feel the temperature. Are there any fish or plants in the water? You may feel the cooler temperatures as you get deeper into the forest. Perhaps the temperature is getting warmer if you are going uphill or if there aren’t as many trees around.
If you pay attention to the sound you may also hear birds, or insects along with the sound of water. What color and size are they. Have you ever noticed how graceful and beautiful birds are when they are flying in V formation? Maybe you hear other hikers along the path with you. Perhaps you are with another hiker and you are both enjoying the view and pointing out different things to each other.
Any time you are in nature there is something awe-inspiring, or something you haven’t seen before. If you open up your mind you may be curious about different things that you are seeing. When you are doing these things, you will not be paying attention to the negative thoughts in your head and you are focusing on something other than your worries. You don’t have to give them any time and attention, as they are not doing you any good. Focusing on your problems will not improve your mood. Once you have done all the problem solving you can, let it go.
You don’t have to go far to observe nature. You can walk outside of your home or apartment. Go for a small walk around your apartment, or into a neighborhood and you will have plenty of beauty to focus on. Notice and be curious about the things around you and soon you will feel a part of them, and your stress level will come down.
If you need help reducing stress, therapy can help. Give me a call at 713-304-6554.
Take care,
Debbie
