A Free and Easy Way to Manage Anxiety: Nature

Deep breath in. Hold. Deep breath out.   Anxiety, stress, nervousness. We all experience these to varying degrees. Managing anxiety can be challenging, but luckily a proven method of management is free and easy to do. Spend time in nature!  This may sound overly simplistic, but it’s a habit that is becoming less common and increasingly important. Spending time in nature is proven to reduce stress levels and increase happiness. Even taking a moment to look out the window and appreciate a tree opens up the mind to something beyond ourselves, and reduces our anxiety levels. Anxiety and depression are on the rise, so simple methods to combat it, like spending time in nature, are key. Whenever I get down to the water, my breathing eases, my mind calms, and my shoulders relax. The benefits of nature are not just seen through personal experience, but proven through science. Research shows that the more one immerses themself into nature, the less they experience negative thoughts. When combined, nature and physical activity have additional health benefits. Physical activity in natural settings, also known as green exercise, leads to positive short and long-term health outcomes. There are some impressive health benefits to spending time in nature, and luckily Edmonton has plenty of nature right in the city. In the North Saskatchewan river valley and along the many lakes across the prairies, we have an abundance of natural park spaces to explore. Getting down to the water is proven to be good for health and fortunately it’s easy to get to. Edmonton’s river valley is the largest expanse of urban parkland in Canada and offers a multitude of anxiety reducing, nature-filled activities! Autumn is a lovely time of year to enjoy picnics, hikes, or bike rides in the river valley to boost serotonin levels! Experiencing the river by kayak, canoe, stand up paddleboard, or motorboat can be both eye-opening and calming. When the weather gets colder and the snow falls, cross country skiing and skating become the perfect modes of river valley transport! Year-round, the river valley provides a unique and spectacular setting to take time out of your schedule and unwind. It may even help your mental health!   Sources  Barton, Jo, and Jules Pretty. “What Is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis.” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 44, no. 10, 2010, pp. 3947–3955., doi:10.1021/es903183r.LaBier, Douglas. “Why Connecting With Nature Elevates Your Mental Health.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 2018, www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-new-resilience/201801/why-connecting-nature-elevates-your-mental-health.Nigro, Sherry. “The Connection between Nature and Mental Health.” Nature Canada, 2018, www.naturecanada.ca/news/blog/mental-health-week/.Whitley, Robert. “Why Nature Is Good For Your Mental Health.” Huffington Post, 2017, www.huffingtonpost.ca/robertwhitley/nature-mental-health_a_23028632/.