We all get the blues now and again. Some of us much more than others. In fact, at least 10% of Americans rely on antidepressant medication each day. Antidepressants can prove very effective when doctors’ advice is properly followed. However, like with many drugs, people can become dependent on them and take more than are prescribed. Furthermore, those taking antidepressants may also self-medicate with other drugs.
But there is a drug-free alternative, and it’s just outside your front door: nature. The outside world provides one of the most reliable ways to boost your physical and mental health. Looking at nature can improve your concentration and productivity, while encouraging a more positive outlook on life. And when we watch or interact with nature, it can have huge physiological and physical benefits, including:
- Better short-term memory
- Stress relief
- Reduced inflammation
- Restores mental energy
- Delay the symptoms of dementia
If you can’t always get away from it all and get back to nature, why not bring nature to you? Surround yourself with plants and images of nature to help lift your mood and enhance your day. This helpful article explains more about how being exposed to nature can improve your wellbeing.
Photo courtesy of Caroline Sada via Unsplash