Hugging trees and watching birds improves health. How it works

Anna Ratnikova

How does being one with nature affect a person’s mental state?

Everyone talks about mental well-being today. Talking about it doesn’t make it any easier, and anxiety and apathy are breaking records. And here more than ever the help of nature is needed.

The simplest practices when interacting with nature are:

• visual (observe);
• sound (listening to birdsong, the sound of the surf);
• tactile (swimming in the sea, hugging trees, resting on the grass, touching the sea sand).

They are ideal for developing and practicing sensory sensitivity. Back in the 1980s, the Japanese government included a practice called “shinrin-yoku” – “forest bathing” – in the national health plan, because walking in nature helps reduce stress and anxiety and improves health. According to studies conducted in Japan and China, forest walks also have therapeutic effects on the immune, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, reduce depression and anxiety, and help relaxation.

According to a study conducted by Australian and British environmental scientists, people who visit parks or are outdoors for at least 30 minutes a week are less likely to suffer from mental health problems and high blood pressure. Regular walks will have a much greater effect.

There are at least three reasons why you should take up birdwatching:

1. It has been scientifically proven that having wild birds around humans significantly improves their mood and health. A study published in the journal BioScience found that an abundance of plants and birds around humans contributes to less frequent depression, anxiety, and stress.
2. Birdwatching can also be a great alternative to fitness and meditation. Professional birdwatching requires constant movement, agility and concentration.
3. Birdwatching gives a sense of inner harmony, as humans have a biological attraction to nature.

Birdwatching is becoming more popular around the world. Therefore, medical clinics in Europe have begun to collaborate with bird education programs in conservation organizations, such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in the UK. Joint programs make it possible to create new effective forms of psychological support. In Russia, by the way, it is also possible to observe birds.

Hugs with trees

Hugs with trees also help in the prevention of mental disorders. This simple action increases the level of the hormone oxytocin, which is responsible for a sense of calm and emotional connection. When you hug a tree, serotonin and dopamine are produced – hormones that make you feel happier.

From interesting facts. During the coronavirus pandemic, the Icelandic Forest Service came up with a new way to combat the isolation that plagued many people in the country. The service encouraged people to cope with feelings of anxiety and loneliness by hugging trees. To do this, snow was specially cleared in Hallormsstadur National Park and advice was given on how to practice hugging safely. Similar advice was given to the residents of Kuban by the Caucasus Biosphere Reserve during the quarantine. Also, many people began to support the #obnimiderevo challenge.

We can talk endlessly about the positive impact of nature on human health. We recommend to build into your daily routine simple things for relaxation: walks in parks, squares, trips to the sea, gardening, rest in health resort organizations. Listening to the sounds of nature, if there is no possibility to leave, will also give a good result – life will play with new colors, and the emotional background will stabilize.