To thrive once again is possible
I’ve never been one to clap when my plane lands but on my recent trip to Ibiza, I was full on leading the cheers. Finally – after a year and a half of being at home, and having followed all of the proper safety measures to get there, I could retreat into the Balearic countryside, and finally, recharge as I do best when I’m surrounded by luscious views and sounds. A real bubble if I can say so myself.
There’s a science behind why being in nature makes us feel so good. Not only is it a nice to have, but it’s vital to our chemical makeup. Some extra sunlight gives us more Vitamin D which helps to keep us psychologically balanced. Fresh air helps to clear our head and being by the water has been proven to heighten one’s sense of perspective on what really matters.
It’s clear that getting outside is good for us and while ecopsychologists (psychologists who study our relationship with nature to keep well) continue to analyze what type of environment yields the most health benefits, my own hypothesis is that no matter where we find ourselves, nature has something to tell us and is healing in more ways than one.
“Awe can be defined as a feeling of respect mixed with wonder and often the things that are attributed to these feelings are complex and vast like in the natural world”
Which is a good thing because throughout this entire pandemic, we’ve been spending more time outside and the trend is here to stay. The pandemic roars on and I suspect the steady flow of nature trail Instagram posts will continue. And I’m here for it! Tapping into nature grounds, calms, and heals us and according to new research from Harvard, cultivating experiences of awe has many health benefits.
Specifically, research using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has shown that when a person experiences a moment of awe in nature, a decreased activity in the brain’s default mode network results, which is associated with sharper self-focus and lowered rumination (this is when we tend to get stuck on negative thoughts and keep mulling them over).
As Harvard researchers believe, “experiencing something bigger than us helps us transcend our frame of reference by expanding our mental models and stimulating new ways of thinking; increasing our creativity, innovation, {willingness to give back}, and the hope to carry on.”
In other words, being in nature offers us some peace and reduces our stress.
Yes and yes.
I want more peace in my life and want as little stress as possible in it too. How will I achieve this? I’m staying in the well-being bubble natured nudged me into by:
Accepting life’s natural rhythms as they come because really, what other choice do we have? Being in or by the water releases endorphins that helps to lower anxiety so it was a good thing that the jellyfish (known to be a nuisance in the Baleraic Islands) left us alone. As I took to the sea, my mind cleared and I realized that while I do maintain some control over how my life plays out, there are elements that I don’t really have the ability to predict. Life gives and it takes away and yet we somehow have to figure out how to deal with it all. It took a while for me to accept this line of thinking but it’s important to stay in this frame of mind so I can turn negative thoughts into just plain old thoughts that come and then go. Just like how the sea laps the shore – in, then back out. It will be a while before I’m back in the sea but in the meantime, I’ll make sure my daily walks by the lake and creeks in my neighbourhood are like clockwork.
Bringing the outside in, I’ll keep nature close to me as the weather turns and we settle into another winter season.The architectural tones in Ibiza are warm and plants and fresh wood are incorporated with a heavy hand. You don’t ever really know where the outside ends and where the inside of a space starts. It’s more than just boho chic; it’s a true understanding of how important it is that our physical spaces incorporate plants. It keeps the air fresh by eliminating pollutants, ushers life into a room, and boosts our mood, concentration, and creativity. I’ve reached out to a company called Living Wall Concepts – they do some amazing work in creating lush vertical gardens and no amount of plants in my house is too many. I totally need to get this set up and stat.
Eating as fresh as I can, every day. This is a tricky one given our Canadian climate but one thing I plan on buying this fall is a Rise Gardens planter – they’re gorgeous. I helped myself to plenty of fresh fennel, figs, almonds, tangerines, and pomegranates on my daily hikes in Ibiza; I want year-round freshness in my home and every meal I make must include fresh, nutritious produce. I’m doubly vaccinated but that doesn’t mean my personal fight against COVID-19 ends there – eating well keeps my body strong and fresh organic food is key.
Nurturing nature right back as often as I can to help protect the environment; it gives us so much. During my time away, I was happy to discover the Ibiza Preservation Fund, a not-for-profit foundation that works to help keep Ibiza and next-door island of Formentera vibrant and well-protected. Climate change is all too real and it is our responsibility to do what we can to keep our waters clean, the air pure, and the land fertile and green. Keeping well is more than just being physically fit; our environmental well-being depends on a sustainable future and we all play a role in helping to heal the spaces around us that help us feel our best. I have a few planting activities lined up for the fall but beyond this, I’m developing a personal plan on what I can do to lower my own carbon footprint. It feels good to do good.
All to say, my time in Ibiza was more than just a vacation – its natural beauty brought me back to life. I want to stay in this bubble of clarity and awakedness for as long as I can; my well-being depends on it. This virus and the risks and pressures that it brings doesn’t appear to be abating and yet I think I’ll be able to pull through thanks to my deliberate and conscious efforts to nurture my relationship with nature.
