Feeling down? Get Out! | by Jay Mitchell
Feeling low, depressed or anxious is increasingly common. We all have our ups and downs, but these feelings may end up getting in the way of our daily life. Often there doesn’t seem to be a reason that we feel down, so it can be difficult to figure out how to lift our moods. There are multiple strategies that we can try but it is important to state that nothing works for everyone; so, we have to find what works best for us individually. That said, there are some scientifically-proven strategies that are worth giving a try! One such strategy that works for me is getting out of the city and into the natural environment.
Research has shown that spending time in green spaces can have a huge impact on your mood. This is even used by mental health services across the world through a practice called “Ecotherapy”. Put simply, spending time in the natural environment is good for you. We’re not talking about spending weeks in the wilderness here, half an hour in your local park is all it takes.
A report from MIND back in 2007 (Ecotherapy – The Green Agenda For Mental Health), shows that Ecotherapy is as effective as medication for treating mild to moderate depression. When compared to a similar exercise in a built environment, people reported much higher self-esteem, while feelings of depression and anxiety dropped more than expected.
There are certain situations that we all find stressful. From approaching deadlines to conflicting priorities, everyone has times of stress. This is where Ecotherapy comes into its own! It may seem counter-intuitive to take time away from it all when there is so much to get done, but most of us are more productive when we are less stressed. Taking time away from it all means we can actually get more done!
The best part is that it does not appear to matter what you do. Simply being in nature helps. The benefits of physical exercise are well publicised, and combining this with being in nature, (for instance, going for a run through the woods), is a great way to look after your mind and body. That said, simply going for a picnic in the park has been shown to reduce stress and lift your mood.
Personally, I like to forage, by picking edible wild plants. My son also enjoys this, we’ve spent many a happy afternoon filling boxes with blackberries and bags with apples. Making these into jams and juices, and occasionally wine, is another part of quality time together, but it is the time outdoors that we both enjoy the most, and has the biggest impact on our mood.
It’s free and has no side effects, so you have nothing to lose by giving it a try!
At this point, I feel a disclaimer is important. If you are feeling that life is not worth living, or nothing is worth the effort, do not try to deal with it on your own. Reach out for help, speak to your doctor, your manager, your family or your coach. None of us gets through life on our own, we all need a hand every now and again!
Jay Mitchell is a Data Literacy/Data & Insights for Business Decisions apprentice at Direct Line Group and is writing for the Apprentice Lens as part of the Blogging Team. Here is a little more about him:
"I was diagnosed with ADHD a few years into my 40s, which probably explains the numerous unfinished projects I seem to be surrounded by. I enjoy drawing on my own personal experience for my articles, with a view that any tips are meant as “You could do this” rather than “You should do this!"