Nurtured by Nature: outdoors remedy to cabin fever
Being indoors for too long and feeling a little blue lately? You may be experiencing cabin fever and need to take a breath of fresh air to reset.
Humans, like all animals, are meant to be with others. Feeling connected and having the option to socially connect is a natural human need. While acupuncture, diet, and exercise are great ways to help you manage your stress, there’s something else you can do for yourself to help take the edge off…for free.
What Is Cabin Fever?
While it is not a diagnosable condition-based, cabin fever is a common term used to describe the negative feeling of being cut off from the world. Symptoms like feeling anxious, depressed, and persistent low mood from being indoors for a long period of time. The cause is likely due to social isolation, social distancing, very much all the things we have been doing due to the pandemic.
Go Outside
Research has shown that by being outdoors, subjects are less depressed. An association has found that Vitamin D helps with our levels of happiness. And the release of endorphins and serotonin from daily exercises like taking 20 min walks are the main contributing factors to elevating our mood and helping us feel more joyful.
What To Do Outdoors
15 minutes of reading a book on a bench outdoors, or sipping a nice cup of coffee or a beverage of your choice while watching other people or observing all that is around you
20 minutes gardening, raking leaves, and cutting the grass to get some movement
30 minutes stroll with your dog, baby, family, or yourself around the block, and be grateful you’ve got a great neighborhood
60 minutes of hiking to improve your fitness levels, get your legs and glute muscles working a little more and build strength
60+ minutes of bird watching, and a combination of the above to boost up your mental health and memory
Still feeling tensed? Maybe it’s time to schedule an appointment
Citation:
Balchin, R., Linde, J., Blackhurst, D., Rauch, H. L., & Schönbächler, G. (2016). Sweating away depression? The impact of intensive exercise on depression. Journal of affective disorders, 200, 218–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.04.030
Mozaffarian D. (2009). Vitamin D, outdoor happiness, and the meaning of deficiency. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 53(21), 2011–2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2008.12.070
Vujcic, M., Tomicevic-Dubljevic, J., Grbic, M., Lecic-Tosevski, D., Vukovic, O., & Toskovic, O. (2017). Nature based solution for improving mental health and well-being in urban areas. Environmental research, 158, 385–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.06.030
