I often get asked, “what’s the one aspect of nature you love the most?”
Unequivocally, my response is “komorebi.”
This Japanese word has no translation into English but is essentially the feeling experienced when witnessing dappled sunlight between trees, either in the early morning or late afternoon.
It’s a feeling of joy, calm and well-being, and I’ve learned a day with komorebi is always a good day.
In lifestyle medicine, practitioners work holistically to assist their patients to stay well. One area we regularly focus on is mental well-being. It’s well documented that time in nature contributes enormously to our overall health and well-being, so as we celebrate World Mental Health Day on October 10th, let’s not forget actively maintaining our mental well-being is something we need to pay attention to every day.
Why does this matter?
We are living in an era of chronic disease, where the prevalence of illness, both mental and physical continue to rise.
One in seven adult Australians is taking an antidepressant.
Anxiety levels are rampant in our younger generation and 38.8% of individuals aged between 16 to 24 are already living with a diagnosed mental disorder.
Did you know that anxiety and phobias are being diagnosed in children from the age of five and a half?
And yet…
A solution is readily available to alleviate some of the distress and suffering too many of us are experiencing.
This is not to claim that time in nature is the only solution, but the research is compelling that it can have a profound positive effect.
How a dose of outdoors improves mental well-being.
A ten-year study of 2.3 million people living in Wales UK found that living in greener areas, or close to a green or blue space is associated with better mental health. It appears to confer some form of protection against developing mental health issues. Moreover, the greatest benefit of lowered risk was found in those living in more deprived communities.
Here in Australia, a study of over 47,000 adults in NSW showed how those living in areas with 30% of more tree canopy reported better general health and lower psychological distress, prompting the City of Sydney to develop a $377 million strategy to reach 40% green cover by 2050.
This is why good urban design and community planning is vital to ensure adequate access to green spaces for all. Think of the potential health benefits (and economic savings to the healthcare system) if everyone has the opportunity to interact with nature in some way every day.
Interacting with nature lowers stress.
This was one of the primary findings of Japanese researchers when the practice of Shinrin-Yoku or forest bathing was introduced in the 1980s. Highly stressed and exhausted business workers were taken into a forest environment and invited to spend time there.
They discovered spending time in the forest led to a reduction of stress (and cortisol levels) lowered blood pressure, lowered heart rate, increased heart rate variability (a sign of good heart health), strengthened the immune system, elevated mood and improved cognition.
Is there ANY medication on the planet, or other health intervention that can demonstrate a 98% improvement in mental health outcomes?
If you don’t live near a forest or have any obvious greenery around where you live, what can you do? This is where inviting nature in, with living plants, or keeping some pots with your favourite flowers or shrubs on a balcony or back deck can help. Pictures of nature of the wall, even watching nature documentaries can help.
Stepping outside is the simplest thing to do, or simply throw open a window and take in some fresh air and sunshine. Best of all you don’t need long. Even three to four minutes starts to produce the physiological changes. Though, longer is better.
Relaxing outside, whether you’re doing some gardening, reading a book or meditating allows your system to relax. Escaping from the daily challenges and hustle for a short time is the best way to disconnect from all your stress, while restoring your energy and attention. You become physically relaxed while mentally alert.
Green social prescriptions are rising in popularity both here in Australia, Canada and the UK.
How would you design your own nature prescription, so you get to spend 15-20 minutes every day outdoors, and experience some komorebi?
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