The Nature Fix
A friend recommended a book to me: The Nature Fix, What Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, by Florence Williams.
Williams' writing is soothing in and of itself. Her journey into exploring the science behind why time in nature is truly an elixir for the brain begins when she moved from Colorado to Washington DC. Her daily small walks immersed in nature were suddenly no longer as easy to access. She noticed the difference and began to ask some important questions:
How is the loss of access to nature impacting our children’s lives?
Does science support the notion of a nature disorder?
What is the impact of nature on anxiety and distraction?
What is the dose and the definition of “nature”?
As I started reading the book (and I’m not yet that far into Williams travels to the southwest, Asia, and her own neighborhood to seek answers), I already know that my clients, who are stressed, overworked, overwhelmed, and anxiety ridden, need to know that there is a fix. The Nature Fix.
Late this summer I went on my own quest in the form of a 4-week road trip to Yellowstone, The Badlands, the East Coast, and the southern part of the US. We stayed in campgrounds and saw amazing animals, forests, lakes, and geographies. We let go of time for the most part. I slept better. I ate better. I felt so much more relaxed and at peace than I have in a long time. Not only was it an adventure, but it was also nature!
I already feel the deficit of nature time creeping in. So I’ve made sure to take time to sit quietly in my yard. The Finnish recommend 5 hours per month! So doable. And Oscar Wilde defines nature as “a place where birds fly around uncooked”.
With those simple parameters, we can all increase nature time. Put the phone down (hard for me), and let our 5 senses become entranced with nature. Smell the leaf on your tree, listen for wind, feel the sunshine, notice what birds are about, and bite into a crispy locally grown apple!
If this sounds like one more thing to do, consider that in the average month there’s about 43,200 minutes. You only need 300 minutes for 5 hours of nature immersion. And you only have to step right outside your door.
Here is the link to Williams’ book* on Amazon. And I’m sure you can get it from a number of other booksellers. Let me know your thoughts!
*When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.