Wellbeing Decoded

We all know how to live a healthy lifestyle – we just don’t necessarily do it. Eat well, exercise, be mindful, be grateful, but how do we do these things when we’re always so busy and stressed? Today we’re going to talk about slowing down in nature and using blue and green spaces. A blue space is a place with water like a river, creek or lake. A green space is a place with plant life, like a garden, forest or park. The benefits are endless.

Getting Back to Nature

When you take a break in a natural environment, there are a range of physiological effects which directly change the way you feel, and the way in which you interact with the world and the people around you. Your heart rate slows and your blood pressure drops. With repeated exposure to natural spaces, your brain and mind can recover from depletion, and there’s good evidence to show a meaningful reduction in heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and other diseases. There can even be a meaningful improvement in depression and anxiety.

Just imagine it. The smell of fresh air. The sound of running water. The feel of gravel crunching under your boots, or sand between your toes. The chill in the air as you step into the shade. The warmth of the sun against your skin. The taste of fresh, cold water, sipped from your favourite bottle. You take a deep breath, counting slowly in-2-3-4 hold 2-3-4 out 2-3-4. You do this twice more, no more than five deep breaths in a row. How do you feel? More calm, collected, grounded? Is your head a little clearer?

You don’t need to do anything specific to get the benefits of being in nature. A good place to start is with a simple walk, deep breathing, and/or the 5-4-3-2-1 method of noticing your surroundings. Exercise in the outdoors is a lovely way to get two benefits at once – being outdoors, and the physical benefits of the exercise itself.

So get out there and enjoy your day! Take a moment to pause and experience the world around you. Go outside, notice five things you see, four sounds you hear, three textures you feel, two scents you smell, and do one movement, like walking, swatting, or rising. Taking a walk in a beautiful place with the people you love can be a lovely way to reconnect with nature, yourself, and your loved ones.

Right at Home Allied Health is dedicated to delivering quality, patient-centred care across Australia. Our allied health services comprise chiropractic, exercise physiology, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, and speech pathology. We also provide remedial massage therapy, clinical nutrition, clinical naturopathy, and Pilates. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those we serve by decoding health, happiness, and harmony. Discover, heal, and optimise your physical and emotional wellbeing with Right at Home Allied Health. Book a Discovery Session at your local clinic today. 

*Some services may not be available in all locations. Please contact your local office to learn more about their in-clinic and at-home allied health and wellbeing services.