I haven’t posted much in the last few months as I’ve been making a big move: from the UK to New Zealand! The main reason for the move was a new job opportunity at the University of Waikato and one of the first things that struck me when I came to the university campus was its greenness. The contrast between a city centre campus and one that is full of trees, lakes and birds is remarkable. (The photo here is one I took during my lunch break.)
I am definitely one of those people who prefers being in nature to the buzz of being in a city and it got me thinking about ‘forest bathing’: an increasingly popular idea that claims walks in the forest can improve our health. While going for a walk in nature is something millions of people enjoy around the world, the practice of forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, was introduced by the Japanese Forest Agency in 1982.
Shinrin-yoku can be thought of as taking in the atmosphere of the forest through all five of our senses. A series of laboratory and field studies has demonstrated a range of beneficial psychological and physiological effects for this simple practice: people’s mood improved and their levels of the stress hormone cortisol were reduced. There is even some indication that immune response may be enhanced by time spent in the forest.
But if you don’t have a convenient forest nearby, don’t worry! Other studies have shown the positive impact of urban green spaces as well as engaging with nature using just one sense rather than being immersed in it. You could try simply choosing a photo of nature as the desktop image for your computer and see if viewing it helps to improve your day.
With so many of us spending so much time in artificial, built up environments, these studies are a welcome reminder that engaging with nature is good for us and that sometimes, very simple steps can make a big difference to our physical and psychological well-being.