Adair Rader- Reflection on Nurturing Mental Health through Nature

 Hi all! I attended the event "Nurturing Mental Health through Nature" and I thought I would share some major takeaways/things I have been thinking about or reflecting on:

1. What even is nature? Dr Redick talks about this a lot and I find myself thinking about it often. Typically in everyday conversation, we refer to nature as being outside or maybe the wilderness. Its so interesting to think about the invisible boundaries we create between nature and more urban areas. For example, that somehow laying on the Great Lawn isn't really being in nature, but walking the Nolan Trail is? It's so odd the mental and physical barriers we make. This goes for the concept of natural. We think of buildings are not being natural but the example of a beaver creating a dam was given at the panel. Anyway...I just think about this a lot now. 

2. "If you want to be happy do what happy people do" and routine This was such a mind blowing thought for me when I heard it. That experiencing depression has many of us thinking that to feel better we need to lay in bed in the dark and that will make us feel better. I want to make it clear that sometimes we truly need rest and good rest is healthy, but sometimes this type of rest isn't restful. Often times sitting outside in the sun or going on a leisurely walk is truly the rest we need. It is in these moment that we must rely on routine, habits, or prior experiences that suggest getting outside and moving our bodies will energize us and bring us joy much more than laying inside will. 

3. Physical benefits of being outside  I love thinking about all the health benefits of being outside and I loved learning more about them at the talk. Evidentially, all these benefits come with moderation. For example, the vitamin D we get from the sun is great for us, but too much of anything, sun exposure included, can be a bad thing (we can get skin cancer from the sun). There has been many studies on how being outside can lower cortisol and our heart rates. One benefit that I recently learned about in a study is the different type of visual stimulation we receive by being outside. Many of us know that staring at a screen disrupts our circadian rhythm and that being outside in natural light results in a well ordered circadian rhythm. The study I read offered another insight. When we stare at a screen or sit inside, we engage a more narrow visual field. This narrow visual field can disrupt the nervous system. However, when we are outside and put our screens away, we engage a much broader visual field that is relaxing to the nervous system. I just thought that was so cool. 

4. Learning to do what you can in the moment  Doing is something is better than doing nothing. I think we live in a culture of giving 100%. It seems we either we go to the gym consistently or its not worth it. We eat healthy consistently or its not worth it. I argue doing something once or imperfectly is worth it. It's worth it to go on one walk, to eat a piece of fruit, to show up imperfectly. But, I'm learning to take my own advice. 

5. Why do we even need gyms? We can literally just move. I'll keep this idea short. I am not knocking how great going to the gym can be. For many, it is a great option to get their exercise in at any time of day and regardless of the weather. There is community at the gym. There are many great aspects of the gym. However, one of the panelists mentioned that exercising outside can be even more beneficial for mental health than exercising in the gym. Just an idea that if going to the gym is intimidating or feels like too much effort, an outdoor walk/jog/hike can do wonders for mental and physical health.