Embrace nature and be uplifted

Kristen Hamling Photo/File

"Deviation from nature is deviation from happiness."
- Samuel Johnson

How often have you thought to yourself, "Jeez, I'm in such a bad mood, I better go and look at a tree"? Well, recent research tells us that this is exactly what you should do.

Being immersed in nature has been shown to lead to vast improvements in mood, attention, memory and concentration.

Nature seems to grasp your attention and hold it there, which is an excellent way to achieve a mindful moment and relax.

Nature has also been shown to have a huge impact on our mental health and happiness. For example, researchers in the UK recently followed the mental health of people who moved out of the city and into the country (surrounded by a greener and more natural landscape)versus people who moved out of the country and into the city. What was found was remarkable. People who moved to greener areas had far better mental health in the three subsequent years they were assessed.

The poor sods who moved to the city were shown to have far worse mental health in the year following the move. They did return to their pre-move health status after that but never showed an improvement in their mental health.

In a more urban environment, we are constantly bombarded with stimulation; you can't zone out as easily as you can in nature. And there is something incredibly nourishing about being present in nature.

Other studies have shown that exposure to nature increases our feelings of vitality, which subsequently generates more energy and strengthens our immune system.

People who work outdoors always seem to have more of a spring in their step and a certain enthusiasm for life, beyond what you see in office workers.

I was at a party the other night and spoke to a number of farmers. Geez, what an awesome and happy bunch of people they are (or maybe it was the cocktails!).

A psychologist (Richard Ryan) who studies the impact of nature on our health has said that "nature is fuel for the soul ... often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energised is to connect with nature."

Apparently just imagining being in nature (eg imagining yourself outdoors or recalling previous outdoor activities) has been shown to increase serotonin levels (feel-good brain chemical), which puts you in a better mood and gives you more energy.

And just the presence of nature, such as an indoor plant, created similar changes in mood and energy.

So figure out if you are suffering from "nature deficit disorder", because this is likely to be having a huge impact on your mood and energy levels.

Get yourself down to a garden centre, buy yourself a plant and stick it on your desk, in the car or kitchen, wherever you spend most of your time.

Then, in your breaks or spare time, go and find some nature and rub yourself in it - it's good for you.

-A registered psychologist with a masters in applied psychology, Wanganui mother-of-two Kristen Hamling is studying for a PhD in positive psychology at Auckland University of Technology.