Is spending time in nature just what the doctor ordered? This month’s lead post in the Climate Change Collective is from Alison at A Sustainably Simple Life who tells the story of her experience disconnecting from the world and reconnecting with nature. As I read Alison’s story, I recalled a program I heard about recently where doctors prescribe spending time in nature for their patients.
A prescription for spending time in nature
When was the last time you fully disconnected for more than a few minutes and spent time enjoying nature? If you’re like most people, I bet it has been a while.
As a result of the increased urbanization of our world, we spend less time in nature than any generation that came before us. I honestly believe that’s why our planet is in the dire state it’s in. It’s hard to take concrete steps to protect something if we don’t feel a personal connection to it.
Science shows that spending time in nature is good for our physical and mental health. A few months ago, I read about an innovative program where doctors in British Columbia are writing prescriptions for their patients to get outdoors and spend time in nature.
The PaRx – Prescription for Nature program is an initiative of the BC Parks Foundation. Participating physicians prescribe 2 hours a week of meaningful nature time, to be taken 20 minutes at a time. That’s all it takes to boost our physical and mental health.
Benefits of spending time in nature
The PaRx website provides some interesting insights into the benefits of spending time in nature for adults, kids and the planet. Here are a few nuggets to ponder:
- For adults, increasing nature time reduces the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. It also boosts memory, creativity, and work satisfaction.
- For kids with ADHD, a 20-minute walk in the park can improve concentration scores similar to prescription medication.
- Youth who spend time in nature are more resilient and experience less anxiety and depression.
- Protecting our forests and green spaces helps them act as carbon sinks and gives us more places to destress.
So, what are you waiting for? If you need more evidence, take some time to read Alison’s inspiring story about how her retreat boosted her wellness and restored her connection to nature. It will make you want to run away to a forest or island and stay there!
But taking time to step back, disconnect from all those worries, and reconnect with myself has allowed me the space to see a greater picture of this life and the world. We only have so much time here. For better or worse, our moments matter.
Alison, A Sustainably Simple Life
Reconnecting with Nature and Self by Disconnecting From the World
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About the Climate Change Collective
The Climate Change Collective started after I left a comment on a blog post by Jamie Ad Stories. Jamie and I wanted to find a way to keep the climate change message top of mind for everyone, so I put out a tweet to see what kind of interest there would be in a climate-change-related blogging collaboration. The Climate Change Collective was born!
The members of the collective take turns writing a monthly blog post sharing their unique perspective about climate change. After the post is published, the rest of the group keeps the conversation going by sharing a link to the post on their blogs along with their thoughts and ideas.
If you’re a like-minded blogger and would like to join our collective, please get in touch. More voices joining the conversation means more attention to the problems plaguing our planet!
More Climate Change Collective posts
The Climate Change Collective series has been going strong for over two years. See Two years of the Climate Change Collective series for a recap of the posts we published in the first two years.
Recent posts in the series
- Is Climate Change Overlooked in Schools? – Jamie Ad Stories
- Highlighting Useful Ways to be Sustainable This Winter – Transatlantic Notes
Thanks to Alison for being part of our Climate Change Collective and for sharing her personal experience with the benefits of nature.
How would you feel if your doctor wrote you a prescription to spend time in nature? Tell me your thoughts below.
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That’s so interesting about this program! I hadn’t heard about that before, but it totally makes sense. I’ve really been missing my daily walks outside which do wonders for my health in the summer.
It is an interesting program. I’d love to see it catch on outside of BC!
I definitely feel more connected when spending time in nature, there are just endless benefits!
Absolutely. It’s a shame that we have become so disconnected from nature. There are so many benefits!
Spending time in nature – you’re right, it works every time! Not many prescriptions can claim that same success. Great article, Michelle!
Thanks Wynne. I think if I lived in BC, I wouldn’t need a prescription. So many beautiful places to explore there!
How wonderful…I can’t think of a better prescription some days. Time spent in nature. Yes! And I wonder if more climate awareness, respect for nature and its fragility might be enhanced the more people slow down to be outside for their health— and in the process, perhaps some perspective’s gained? Thank you, Michelle! 🥰
Yes! I definitely notice a difference in my mood when I have a couple of days when I don’t get outside, even if just for a few minutes. I think it would help our planet if people really took the time to slow down and appreciate what’s at risk. Thanks for reading, Vicki!
My pleasure — thanks for writing! 🥰
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