Who needs fresh air and sunshine when you can bask in the warm glow of your computer screen and soak in the artificial lighting of your office cubicle all day? Yes, forget about nature's wonders - you've got air conditioning, central heating, and Wi-Fi to keep you cozy and connected.
And let's not forget all the health benefits of being indoors all the time. Nothing says vitality like sitting in a desk chair for eight hours straight, eating microwaved meals, and breathing in the sweet scent of recycled office air. Ah, the invigorating feeling of fluorescent lights and stale coffee!
Our current indoor atmosphere is less about escaping the elements, as it were for our cave dwelling ancestors, and more about having a comfortable place for binge watching our favorite show while simutaneously doom scrolling through social media. The constant birage of information our brains are cycling through on a daily basis would crash even the highest powered super computer. Input collapse, or sensory overload, is when you are preceiving so much that you become overwhelmed. The triggers and symptoms vary person to person but it is safe to say, it leads to unpleasantness, from panic attacks to bad moods. For me, my brain litterally collapses in on itself. It shuts down and refuses to function. You get one word answers and a "I don't care" attitude.
Studies have shown that just being in a natural space, surrounding yourself with greenery, birds or a natural water feature, have increasingly positive effects on the brain, and thus your mental and physical health. Being in nature has shown to reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels, the stress hormone, which also leads to an improved mood. It has been shown to stimulate creative thinking and problem solving abilityies, resulting in increased creativity and innovation. Attention and consentration levels are increased making it easier to focus on a task and reduce mental fatigue. Nature also has been credited with improved cognitive function, memory and overall brain health, leading to better mental clarity and sharper thinking. There have been studies that show being in nature increases brain connectivity, actively connecting regions associated with attention and emoutional regulation. An improvment in sleep quality, including duration, is also credited to being in nature, which aids the body and brain to rest, reset and heal, leading to better overall health.
Some will argue that studies have also shown that staying indoors can reduce your risk of sunburn, bug bites and getting lost in the wilderness. All of which is true, however, these reduced risks also come with a huge decrease in joy, happiness and overall will to live.
It doesn't take much to get the benefits that nature has to offer, a stroll on a local trail, a float down a river or just sitting in your back yard. While we certainly recommend full out nature immersion and adventuring, it is isn't required to get all the goodies that nature has to offer.
Why not trade your gym time for a daily workout of running after squirrels and dodging posion ivy. Forget the fancy fitness classes and expensive equipment and head outdoors for a natural cardio session. I know some of you need something a bit more challenging, so may I suggest straping a steak to your thigh and running through bear country.
Save a few dollars on your therapy bill by sitting next to a tree and sharing your troubles with the nesting bird above you. She is stuck in that nest sitting on her eggs so you know she won't fly away and her song is probably more helpful than any therapists' feedback anyway. Plus the bird isn't going to judge you on your questionable life choices. And you can't get much more confidence in confidentiality than a bird. Even if they wanted to tell your story who would beleive them?
So get up and GET OUTSIDE!
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