The great outdoors. There is nothing quite as sweet as the sweetness in the air after a cool night blending into a sunny morning in the woods. The serenity that comes from the whispering of the leaves in the trees high above is akin to waking from a mellow dream. Even though the artful layout of a forest is excellent, there are more benefits that come from spending time within natural surroundings than a pleasing sight.
Imagine if, heavens forbid, Central Park were to be sold. The initial monetary worth of the square footage is estimated to be $35 billion. However, the worth of the green space within one of the world’s most bustling cities is beyond priceless. It's unlikely you need another reason to go into the woods, but in case someone you know needs some convincing:
1. There is free food.
And trees are good for so many things besides making oxygen for us to breathe. They can produce fruit, which is a kind way of assisting with snacks on a leisurely walk to an extreme hike. Additionally, it is food for the soul.
2. Limitless health benefits!
There is a fascinating study that was done through Kyoto University that studied the effects of ‘shinrin-yoku,’ or forest-air bathing. The results of the 498 person study showed that the scores of the moods hostility and depression decreased and that liveliness scores increased with exposure to a forest environment as compared to a control day. It’s a free pass to chillax.
3. Not just flora, but fauna.
You might get to see an animal you haven’t seen in a while in LIVE ACTION. This can be incredibly satisfying. There may be a squirrel or a toad or a deer or a butterfly right around the bend!
4. Headspace.
There is never a greater time to think. The daunting task of organizing a disarray of not-so-favorable thoughts can lead to crippling paralysis of action. Walking itself has been shown to boost creativity in this Stanford study and the terrain and focus that it takes to ambulate through the woods can help even the muddiest issues be worked through.
5. It smells really good.
There is air pollution and people pollution and light pollution. It is kind of trite, but a healthy forest smells exponentially better than any cityscape I have ever visited. There’s no need to stop and smell the roses because the entire forest is a rose. This article makes a final point much the same, in that no matter how much quantified data is provided, there is an intuition that prevails also.
6. Exercise.
There is no doubt that exercise is helpful and walking is a low-impact avenue. Health of the body and the mind? Sign me up!
7. Silence.
There is no better place to listen to silence than within the trees. The strange thing is that the more quiet you get, the louder the world around becomes. The layers and layers of the symphony of nature make way for a soundtrack that fast can become a favorite.
8. Trees are wonderful.
The natural world is astounding. The dual complexity and simplicity of the intricate workings of an environment never cease to amaze. The instinct to appreciate and be a part of this grand machine is a summons that should not be denied.
