Are you feeling stressed out, overwhelmed or exhausted at your office or workplace? You, my friend are not alone, in fact according to the American Institute of Stress 65% of workers said that workplace stress had caused difficulties, 62% end the day with work-related neck pain and 34% report difficulty sleeping! The facts are staggering, and Americans are working longer and harder, U.S. workers clock more hours on the job than any other industrialized nation. Cue the nature pill! What is a nature pill and what are the positive effects?
A nature pill is simply going outside to an area that feels like nature to you for at least 20 minutes every day with no technology (ditch that Apple watch on your way out the door!) and no exercise, the goal is to be present in a space outside that feels like nature to an individual. According to a study from the University of Michigan taking a 20-minute nature pill (strolling or sitting for 20 minutes a day in an area that feels like nature, free of technology) definitively lowers stress and cortisol levels. Cortisol levels were measured in participants after their nature experience and the levels of stress hormone consistently dropped after only 20 minutes. Read more about the study in this Fast Company article.
Nature pills are a low-cost solution to reduce the negative health effects that modern day workers are facing. With the increase in urbanization as well as dependence on technology to fulfill our job duties health care professionals need to begin to look towards more natural solutions. There is no single definition of “nature” that works for everyone, but it is more about how it feels to our senses. Smelling and feeling the coolness of air that is produced when close to plants is just as important as what it looks like to the eye.
Bottom line is spending time outdoors close to plants, trees, flowers and elements that make you feel connected to nature have great benefits to your health and we have the science to back it up! In this fast-paced world taking 20 minutes out of your day to connect with nature maybe just the non-synthetic anxiety relief that your body and mind are desperately seeking. Try it for one week, what is the worst that can happen you befriend the local squirrel?
