Reading and Research

The health benefits of green or blue prescriptions are many and there are calls to integrate them more into routine care

Finding awe in nature can bring you calm, better attention, a sense of ease, a feeling of being connected to something larger than the self and greater perspective on daily stresses.

Several recent studies have concluded that mental-health treatments are more effective when they’re combined with physical activity programs, supporting the idea that therapy can be about far more than just talking.

Research suggests moving your workout outside can be a simple way to magnify its benefits, not only for thinking but also health, happiness, fitness and motivation — a timely message as springtime temperatures rise, leaves bud, days lengthen and the outdoors beckons.

Dr Amir Khan, NHS doctor and vice president of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “What excites me about this research is that it shows the potential of Wildlife Trusts programmes to work alongside and reduce reliance on NHS services.

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This is an important finding because it demonstrates for the first time a causal relationship between exposure to nature and change in stress-related brain regions

If you’re struggling with stress or low mood, it seems the age-old advice really does ring true: get outside, go for a walk and talk to some friends. Combine all three and you’re onto a winner. 

I suggest that we can apply the simple notion of being present – carefully attending to the here and now of experience.