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So for anyone who hasn't already guessed, one of the reasons that I started The Botanical Bunch is to spend more time around nature and be more creative. Who wouldn't want to sit in the garden and play with flowers all day if they had the chance?
Over the past few months, with our options for entertainment relinquishing, we have all looked to exploring the outdoors. From walks in the woods, parks or to any part of greenery that we can find by us. Other than the obvious reason, to get off the sofa and get some steps in, it kept us amused and distracted for a small part of the day.
What many people may not realise is that it will have also helped us with anxiety, depression and stress.
Being around nature is proven to improve our mental health state and there are many studies to prove so. I have personally found the topic really rewarding to research and so wanted to share it with you to help encourage us to keep it up post lock down, we all need a time to destress from our normal lives too!
Here is what I found....
Research shows that our environments can increase or reduce stress, which in turn impacts our bodies. What you are seeing, hearing, experiencing at any moment is changing not only your mood, but how your nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are working.
The stress of an unpleasant environment can cause you to feel anxious, or sad, or helpless. This in turn elevates your blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension and suppresses your immune system. A pleasing environment reverses that.
Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to-
Physical wellbeing
Reducing blood pressure
Heart rate
Muscle tension
Production of stress hormones
Which means it will-
Improve your mood
Reduce feelings of stress or anger
Help you take time out and feel more relaxed
Improve your physical health
Improve your confidence and self-esteem
Help you be more active
Help you make new connections
There are many things that we can do to make sure that we spend more time outside, by growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals.
It is also proven that nature in the home can also cause the same effects.
One of the most intriguing areas of current research is the impact of nature on general wellbeing. In one study in Mind, 95% of those interviewed said their mood improved after spending time outside, changing from depressed, stressed, and anxious to more calm and balanced. Other studies by Ulrich, Kim, and Cervinka show that time in nature or scenes of nature are associated with a positive mood, and psychological wellbeing, meaningfulness, and vitality.
Furthermore, time in nature or viewing nature scenes increases our ability to pay attention. Because humans find nature inherently interesting, we can naturally focus on what we are experiencing out in nature. This also provides a respite for our overactive minds, refreshing us for new tasks.
So plants, flowers and pictures of nature will help do all that being in nature does too.
With us all spending more time working at home, we could all do with a nice view of a plant, flowers or a painting of the outdoors.
I've recently decorated my living room with a Scandi art wall, based on forests and waterfalls, from this I've continued the forest green theme and its turned out to be one of my favourite places to be. I can honestly say, it is the most calming room in the house, even guests mention it!
I got my art from the www.posterstore.com they have a huge variety and lots of nature scenes for all kinds of colour schemes.
I have credited the research pages directly under their quotes, feel free to click the links for some more in depth studies.
Lets make our home and minds greener.
I hope this blog helped!
Jade x