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It’s undeniable that more and more of our planet’s population is moving to the big city, wherever that big city may be. It makes sense, but it may also be taking a toll both our mental and physical health.
What’s the answer to this problem? Well, as Henry David Thoreau may have put it, "How important is a constant intercourse with nature...to the preservation of moral and intellectual health!"
A new study shows that physically healthy people who took 90-minute nature walks were less likely to think negative thoughts after their exercise than those who took a walk around a densely populated city, the study observed.
These nature walks prevented “rumination,” or negative thoughts about oneself. Rumination is a risk factor for depression.
This is one in a serious of findings that support the need for humans to have experiences with nature. Just being able to see trees from our window or spending a little time in nature has been proven to help with recovery, coping with big life changes, and memory retention.
Now, it seems, it may be helpful for managing or preventing depression.
Though the study is by no means conclusive yet, the lead researcher from the study hopes that these results will encourage people to spend more time in nature for more reasons than just the view. They hope that instead of a painkiller or antidepressant, at least one person may be inspired to go out into nature first, to see if that helps them without the intervention of medication.
Not only that, but walking in nature is a creative way to get in some exercise, which is also beneficial to mood, memory, and countless other aspects of health.
What more reason do you need? Look up your local parks and hiking trails, and become the naturalist you always wanted to be.
