My husband and I love to watch a good documentary at night and recently we have been watching Pole to Pole with Will Smith (National Geographic.) It is absolutely an amazing tour of the extremes of our world from the South Pole to the North Pole! In the 4th episode, called The Secret of Happiness, Will visits the Kingdom of Bhutan in the Himalayas, a country that has a national focus on happiness that is measured by something called GNH – Gross National Happiness. In this episode he is guided by a happiness expert to see what makes this country happy and what that might mean to the rest of us, and it really got me thinking! People are getting richer and living longer but our sense of well-being is going down. So how do we get that happiness back into our lives?
The second part of happiness that Will explores is stress. What happens when you are stressed? Can you see what would make you happy when you have a stressful situation going on? We all have cortisol (stress hormone) and when it is high, how do you release it and bring it down to normal?
During this episode, the focus is on Nature. Spending time in nature is key to restoring happiness and improving your mental health. Nature can reduce stress, boost mood, enhance focus and foster a connection to yourself and the world. That is why when I am really stressed, I have found that taking a walk or listening to outside sounds can reduce my stress level. Ever sit at the beach and just watch and listen to the waves and just feel better while doing it? Welcome to cortisol reduction and stress relief.
By being in nature, you can restore your mind and reduce mental fatigue which can lead to a more relaxed state. The American Heart Association has published articles about how being outside can energize your mind and body. They say you can feel better by being in nature and get rid of depression, stress, anxiety, fatigue and feeling of disconnection and angst.
Next time you are in nature, just STOP. Let the natural world around you bring you back to center. The sounds of the birds, leaves blowing, water flowing and the smells of flowers all have a positive effect on your mood. Research says that just 20 minutes a week in nature can help you to de-stress. Have you ever thought about nature being a way to de-stress…and contribute to your happiness?
There are of course other ways to de-stress, studies also show that simply having a hobby or activity that you enjoy will move your thoughts away from the things that are stressing you. What those other things are truly dependent on the individual, but we all know what makes us happy and “relaxed.” We just tend to forget about them or not take the time to pursue them.
So, whether you choose to enjoy some time in nature, laugh out loud, ride a bike, climb a mountain, do yoga, meditate or even just build a puzzle, consider what stresses you and work towards your happiness. Your life will be better and healthier for it.
