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 led you to the breaking point
But there is a great universal stress reliever–one that is
close to everyone Nature offers bountiful opportunities for
relieving stress It might seem old-fashioned to “commune with
nature,” but it can be incredibly cathartic, decreasing your
stress level immeasurably
First, you must 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 become guilty if
we take time out for ourselves However, if we are to
successfully combat stress, we absolutely must reserve time for
stress-relief, and nature can be one of the best stress
relievers available
Each season offers its own unique brand of stress relief In
the autumn, we can be soothed by the 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 certain amount of confidence in 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 bloomthe
loveliness of plants that have survived winter’s scourgeand
listen to the birds chirping in the trees Gazing at trees just
beginning to bud can be incredibly soothing after a stressful
day on the job
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 mowedand 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 in order 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
Because nature offers such a feast for the senses, enjoying the
outdoors can bring a sense of calm and tranquility to our lives
that few other things 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 have found that
yard work can help to reduce stress Such activities 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 inspired by nature that you write poetry about
the things you see and hear Such 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
re-awaken your senses, allowing you to see things you might have
missed before It can demonstrate to you the beauty of creation
and give you a renewed vitality for life It can 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 a few moments
outdoors is like taking a mini-vacation from the rigors of your
daily life

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