Nature and its ability to heal

Some days you feel stressed, unmotivated, tired or simply not yourself. Journalling helps. Talking to a friend helps. But the healer we most consistently overlook is directly under our feet.

On weather

We judge the weather constantly. Too grey, too bright, too humid, too dry. What if we appreciated it whatever state it was in?

My family have camped every summer since I was three months old. We used to plan trips around the forecast, as most people do. One year it poured, and my mother and I were arguing for driving home, and my father said simply: we are not made of sugar, we will not dissolve.

It rains on the day you wanted sun. Go and jump in the puddles.

Start the day outside

Standing barefoot on grass — grounding — is associated with better sleep, less pain, reduced muscle tension and lower stress. Before the phone, before the coffee, go outside.

Walk

My mother and I walk for forty-five minutes every morning, before breakfast and straight after waking. It sets up the day: a little intentional time outdoors and a conversation about what is ahead. A trail, a neighbourhood, a pavement — the location matters much less than the habit.

Sunlight

A great many people now hide from the sun entirely. Our ancestors lived in it, plants thrive in it, animals thrive in it. Sunlight is how the body makes vitamin D, which bone, heart, lung, dental, immune, nerve and muscular health all depend on.

There is a dietary angle to this too. Diets very high in omega-6 seed oils increase oxidative stress in skin cells, which appears to make skin more susceptible to burning. What you eat changes how your skin handles the sun.

Light and darkness set the circadian rhythm, and half an hour outdoors each day helps synchronise the body’s clock with the day’s — which reduces anxiety, improves mood and sharpens alertness. Watching a sunrise or a sunset does more work than it appears to.

Dirt

Putting your hands in the soil is good for you. Soil holds an enormous population of bacteria that the immune system develops in response to. Animals eat dirt when their stomachs are unsettled, because soil offers some protection against toxins. Gardening is not just a pleasant way to spend an afternoon; it is exposure your immune system was built to expect.

And for thinking

I go outside when there is too much in my head. In the shower, or on a walk with nothing playing, you are left alone with your own thoughts — which is precisely what we spend most of the day arranging to avoid. Dealing with what is on your mind produces a clarity that entertainment does not.

If you are overwhelmed, tired, or simply need to recharge, this is available, and it is free.