We’ve all heard that a walk in the country is good for the lungs but studies show that it is good for our brains too.
For those 45 million of us living in urban settings within a town or a city in the UK* , we present a higher risk of dwelling in negative thoughts, otherwise known as brooding or rumination, and as a result are more likely to suffer from depression.
Rumination is the mental state where we continuously mull over what is wrong with ourselves and our lives. This constant state of fretting is not healthy or helpful.
So by spending less time within a natural environment, we are putting our well-being at risk. This can be easily remedied by taking the time for breaks – weekends outside the city if you have the time or simply a 30-60 minute quiet walk in a nearby park or green space with no music to allow your brain to disengage from negative thoughts.
By immersing yourself momentarily within nature, you are giving yourself the necessary time and space you need to release those negative thoughts you have been harbouring and return feeling more relaxed and focused. And get a nice lungful of fresh air while you are doing it!
* https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rural-population-and-migration/rural-population-201415
