How This Simple Daily Habit Boosts Your Mental Health Tremendously

Unplugging from our digital gadgets and technology is a daily habit we must endeavour to foster. Especially today, with loneliness and mental health becoming increasingly concerning issues. Additionally, because much of our time at work involves technology and connecting via digital platforms. This way of operating and communicating goes against the grain of one our core needs, social interaction, connection. Therefore, if you want to ensure you keep your mental health and wellbeing optimal,  productivity and performance high, then I trust this article will be a simple reminder.

Furthermore, while this may be hard to hear, it is a truth that your favourite social media platforms have their own agendas. They want to keep you engaged, and they know how to hack your dopamine pathways, to keep you there longer. Ultimately, the intention is for you to spend money with them. Ironically, the more time you spend on their platforms, the less focus you put on your goals, which could lead to less income for you and your future,

Time in Nature Is Beneficial Especially When You Leave Your Phone Behind

Recently, I returned to one of my favourite places, Girraween Environmental Lodge. This secluded lodge is nestled on the edge of the beautiful Girraween National Park. Moreover, I love it as there is no phone or internet service available in the individual lodges, forcing us to unplug and become present and fully appreciate nature’s beauty.

My brother and partner, visiting from the UK, joined me. While they found it odd not to check their morning news and notifications, it illustrated just how much we rely on these daily habits. We spent time in conversation, learned a fun card game, and relished the beauty around us. Waking to kookaburras and the sound of kangaroos with their joeys, it was a refreshing experience. We spotted a snake (fortunately dead), an echidna, and countless stunning birds while hiking the rocky landscape of this incredible region.

Excessive Phone and Social Media Is A Common Daily Habit That Negatively Impacts Mental Health

This daily habit of our reliance on technology and gadgets, the hours we spend on social media, often leads to stress, anxiety, and the sense of always being “on.” Studies reveal that the average person checks their phone more than 150 times a day. Moreover, research links high usage to heightened anxiety, depression, and disrupted sleep. This addiction to our devices diminishes focus and mental health as we chase the dopamine “hits” they provide.

Conversely, time spent in nature offers powerful benefits. We feel calmer, more connected, our stress levels and blood pressure levels fall and our mood improves. It’s one of a few key habits we must create for our health, productivity and high performance.

Biologist E.O. Wilson eloquently said:

“Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive, and even spiritual satisfaction.”

The Japanese Engage in Forest Bathing To Reduce Effects of Busy Urban Life

Indeed, there is a massive amount of research supporting time in nature as a key daily habit. Forest Bathing, or ‘Shinrin-Yoku’, gained popularity in Japan in the1980s as a remedy for urban stress. This practice of immersing oneself in nature by mindfully engaging with the forest’s sights, sounds, and smells is scientifically shown to reduce cortisol. Moreover, it lowers blood pressure, boosts our mood, and even strengthens our immune system. Additionally, trees release natural compounds called phytoncides that increase the body’s “natural killer” cells, important for fighting off infections and diseases. While a great daily habit is to get out in nature, we can benefit from less than this. However, like anything, the more we are consistent with getting out in nature, the more it becomes a normal part of our lives, a great daily habit.

Twenty Minutes in Nature, Three Times A Week Is A Great Way To Eventually Make It A Daily Habit

While creating a daily habit of getting outside is ultimate, even twenty minutes in nature, three times a week, boosts memory, cognition and reduces stress. This means, in our busy, digitally driven lives, we can all benefit from nature’s healing effects.

Here are three things you can do and why they are beneficial:

1. Take a quick stroll during the day – especially if you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Give yourself the gift of a break, as you will come back fresher and with greater clarity and energy.

2. Spend a day outdoors each month. A Finnish study showed that city dwellers improved their wellbeing by spending at least five hours in nature each month. Imagine the benefits if you made a visit to nature a daily habit?

3. Take an extended stay in nature a few times each year. Three days or more is optimal, as the brain produces alpha waves that help reset thinking patterns, enhance creativity, and prevent burnout. For example, U.S. Military veterans who spent four days white-water rafting saw a 29% reduction in PTSD symptoms and a 21% decrease in stress. Their relationships, happiness, and overall satisfaction with their lives all improved.

Check out these other tips for renewing your energy, to help you perform optimally. Finally, the only question left, is when will you next give yourself the gift of time in nature, and where will you go?

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