Nature: The Great Stress-Reliever
We live in an age when stress
seems to be around every corner, at every office. The demands
of modern life require us to be constantly "plugged in"
through e-mail, cell phones, pagers and Blackberry devices.
You might feel as if your senses are constantly being
bombarded, both at work and at home. As a result, stress might
have taken you to the breaking point.
The good news is
there’s a great universal stress reliever. one that’s  close to everyone.
Nature offers bountiful opportunities for relieving
stress even though it may seem a bit old-fashioned to "commune
with nature". Try it sometime. It can be incredibly
cathartic, helping you decrease your stress level
substantially.
You must first be willing to take the
time to drink in nature and all its beauty. Often, we feel
overwhelmed by commitments — so overwhelmed, in fact, that we
feel guilty if we take time out for ourselves. However, if
we’re to successfully combat stress, we absolutely must
reserve time for stress-relief, and nature can be one of the
best stress relievers easily accessible to
anyone.
Each season offers its own unique brand
of stress relief. In the autumn, we can be soothed by
multi-colored leaves on the trees, the crunch of leaves under
our feet and lovely azure October skies. By experiencing the
beauty of nature, we can become more relaxed and better able
to take on life's challenges.
In the
winter, we can take brisk walks through the snow,
watching the flakes delicately float down to earth. We can be
energized by the brisk winds and frigid temperatures. We can
also gain a some confidence when battling the elements,
helping to relieve our stress level.
In
spring, we can enjoy the true riches of nature. We
can experience the scent of flowers just beginning to bloom
... the loveliness of plants that have survived the ravages of
winter ... and listen to the birds chirping in the trees.
Gazing at trees just beginning to bud can be incredibly
soothing after a stressful day at work.
Meanwhile,
in the summer, we can experience nature at
its most vibrant. We can enjoy the scent of the grass after
the lawn has just been mowed ... and watch the trees gently
waving in the summer breeze. We can revel in the sun's rays,
or enjoy the refreshment of a summer shower. Just a few
minutes in the outdoors can reduce our stress level
dramatically.
There are also a number of nature-related
activities we can engage in that will help us to relax. For
instance, hiking offers a tremendous opportunity to see the
splendor of nature up close and personal. Skiing allows us to
enjoy winter's beauty, while a game of Frisbee can be a
tremendous lift on a summer afternoon. Nature offers such a
feast for the senses and enjoying the outdoors can bring a
sense of calm and tranquility to our lives that few other
activities can.
Some people have found a
relaxing nature-related hobby in gardening. Planting
flowers, trimming bushes and weeding can help to relax both
the mind and the body. Others find that yard work can help
reduce stress. Activities such as mowing the lawn, raking
leaves or shoveling snow can help to remove us from sources of
stress, giving us a much-needed break.
You may be so
dazzled by nature that you may be inspired to write poetry
about everything you see and hear. Your writing can be
tremendously cathartic, especially when undertaken outdoors.
Lying in a chaise lounge under a tree, composing sonnets about
flowers, can get your creative juices flowing and lower your
stress level in the process.
You might be
surprised how therapeutic nature can be. It can
reawaken your senses, allowing you to see things you might
have previously missed. It can demonstrate to you the beauty
of creation and give you a renewed vitality for life. It can
also provide you with a welcome sanctuary from the world of
blaring stereos and non-stop TV chatter.
Even if you
don't consider yourself a nature lover, brief periods outdoors
can give you a new sense of purpose. With such a positive
outlook, your ability to handle stress will be enhanced. In
essence, spending some time outdoors is like taking a
mini-vacation from the rigors of your daily life.
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