The magical power of nature

In the busy high-paced modern world we find ourselves, many people search for a quick fix to the whirlwind busyness of their lives, but might not realise it is literally right on their doorstep. There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the incredibly restorative power of nature, and yet we spend less and less of our time outdoors in green spaces.

Research shows that taking a stroll somewhere green for just 20 minutes a day is enough to significantly reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Academics from the University of Michigan found that spending this amount of time in a natural environment has a positive, measurable effect that balances the negative fallout from our indoor lifestyle. The only caveat is that participants in their study really had to unplug – disconnecting from social media, calls and even reading or conversations – in order to reap the benefits of the so-called “nature pill”. If they did that, they didn’t even necessarily have to walk, but just sit and be, to reduce stress (although light exercise such as walking is an added boon for wellbeing).

The impact of greenery is so strong that studies show living close to a park or a green space in cities alone is enough to lower stress levels; regardless of whether people actually use these places. Other research indicates that exposing patients to scenes of nature such as forests or waterfalls can help promote healing in hospitals. Just looking out the window at the green grass and leaves can lower our stress, according to research.

In another study, published in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, researchers found that people who walked in the forest had lower blood pressure and levels of cortisol than those who walked around a city.

So what are you waiting for? Find time in each day to spend just a few minutes somewhere outside and green.

Think you’re too busy? Fit it into your day with one of these ideas:

· Go out during the transitions in your day. Before leaping into your car, take a moment to look up at the trees, or notice the flowers around you. Take a long cut on your walk home to detour through a park or along a leafy footpath. Walk home with your children from school and stop to watch the ducks.

· Schedule outdoor meetings. The interesting thing about mobile phones is that they are, well, mobile, so take your calls outside. Or choose to meet a friend outside in a park rather than in a coffee shop.

· When you do get out, take it all in. Use all your senses to savour the experience, and be sure to put that phone away. Feel the wind on your face. Smell the flowers or the rain on hot pavement, walk barefoot on the grass.

· A short walk on the wild side will boost your memory and mood and make the daily stresses a bit easier to manage. You only need to try it for a few minutes to feel a little more like yourself.