Do you feel connected to nature?
Reconnecting with nature has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, while having positive effects on our general health, wellbeing and our quality of life (Park & Mattson 2009, Trostrup 2019).
Integration of plants indoors can increase engagement with nature resulting in health benefits due to negative air ions produced via photosynthesis, regulation of indoor humidity, improved air quality reducing volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and increasing our overall sense of wellbeing (Deng & Deng 2018).
Home garden vegetable and herb patches increase interactions and connection with nature as well as provide you with an abundance of healthy produce. So get your hands dirty and start your own (Van Lier et al. 2016, Vujcic et al. 2017).
Regularly spend time in nature by going for a walk, have a picnic in a park, sit and read or daydream in the grass, meditate outdoors, forage for herbs or medicinal weeds or do some deep breathing exercises.
When spending time in nature pay attention to the birds, watch the butterflies and the bees and remember that we are all part of the one planet and that on an energetic level we need each other.
The more time that we spend outdoors and become aware of the natural abundance all around us the more comfortable we inevitably become with ourselves.
References:
Deng & Deng (2018). The basic roles of indoor plants in human health and comfort. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Doi: 10.1007/s11356-018-3554-1. https://sci-hub.se/10.1007/s11356-018-3554-1
Park & Mattson (2009). Ornamental Indoor Plants in Hospital Rooms Enhanced Health Outcomes of Patients Recovery from Surgery. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 15(9) 975-980. Doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0075. https://sci-hub.se/10.1089/acm.2009.0075
Trostrup, C.H. Christiansen, A.B. Stolen, K.S. Nielsen, P.K. Skelter, R. (2019). The effects of nature exposure on the mental health of patients: a systematic review. Quality of Life Research. Doi: 10.1007/s11136-019-02125-9. https://sci-hub.se/10.1007/s11136-019-02125-9
Van Lier, L.E. Utter, J. Denny, S. Lucassen, M. Dyson, B. Clark T. (2016). Home Gardening and the Health and Well-Being of Adolescents. Health Promotion Practice. 18(1) 34-43. Doi: 10.1177/1524839916673606. https://sci-hub.se/10.1177/1524839916673606
Vujcic, M. Tomicevic-Dubljevic, J. Grbic, M. Lecic-Tosevski, D. Vukovic, O. Toskovic, O. (2017). Nature based solution for improving mental health and well-being in urban areas. Environmental Research. 158, 385-392. Doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.06.030