When I was growing up in the sixties in suburban Pittsburgh, most of my free time was spent outdoors. From tennis to Kick the Can to ice skating to sledding, I was outside in the winter, summer, and everything in between.
Transitioning into my adult years meant increasing the amount of time in school or on the job.
After our health crisis in 2008 (read our story here), we moved to Arizona in large part to enjoy year-round access to warm temperatures. It made sense that if an indoor environment had made us sick, lots of outdoor time could speed up recovery. However, my online quest for health and my growing love for blogging led me to spend increasing amounts of time “attached” to my computer.
I’ve had to re-learn what it means to spend time outdoors and intentionally create reasons to be outside.
Inspiration to Spend Time Outdoors
Much of my inspiration has come from the children’s book The Secret Garden. I picked it up again last year and read it with new eyes. One of the prominent themes in the book is the mental and physical benefits of outdoor air.
Mistress Mary spent much of her childhood indoors without much human interaction. After the death of her parents, relatives brought her from India to England, where her senses were awakened by the mystery of her uncle’s mansion and the surrounding gardens. As the story unfolds we see Mary transform before our very eyes.
The fact was that the fresh wind from the moor had begun to blow the cobwebs out of her young brain and to waken her up a little. (p. 40)
There is no doubt that the fresh, strong, pure air from the moor had a great deal to do with it. Just as it had given her an appetite, and fighting with the wind had stirred her blood, so the same things had stirred her mind. (p. 57)
She was beginning to like to be out of doors; she no longer hated the wind, but enjoyed it. (p. 73)
Another source of inspiration has been the book Your Brain on Nature: The Science of Nature’s Influence on Your Health, Happiness, and Vitality by physician Eva Selhub and naturopath Alan Logan, published in 2014. The book is a fascinating compilation of numerous studies showing the powerful impact of nature on health.
One such study, View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery, published in 1984, found that recovery rates improved if hospital patients had a view of trees as opposed to a view of a brick wall.
The patients with the tree view had shorter postoperative hospital stays, had fewer negative evaluative comments from nurses, took fewer moderate and strong analgesic doses, and had slightly lower scores for minor postsurgical complications.
If you’re looking for the science behind spending purposeful time outdoors, you’ll love what Selhub and Logan have to say. If you’re looking to reconnect with nature, the authors suggest the following:
- Practice shinrin-yoku (a Japanese concept that literally translates as “forest-air bathing,” or walking while taking in the forest environment with all senses)
- Keep plants in your office
- Employ essential oils derived from nature
- Exercise outdoors
- Own a pet
- Ground the mind with gardening and away-from-it-all excursions
- Follow a whole-food approach to nutrition (they recommend the Mediterranean Diet)
One other worthy study of note: In 2012 researchers found that four days of immersion in nature increased creativity by 50%. See Creativity in the Wild: Improving Creative Reasoning through Immersion in Natural Settings.
How I Spend Time Outdoors
My time outdoors has been a journey. It began with a 20-30 minute walk. I had to pry myself away from my computer. When I was outside I was preoccupied with getting back to the computer.
As my journey progressed, my senses awakened. I stopped wearing headphones and listened intently to the birds and other wildlife. I stopped wearing sunglasses (or any eyeglasses) to experience the full spectrum of light. (See Health Benefits of Natural Light.) I began to look hard at the foliage and smile at the rabbits and quail. For the first time since I was a child, I was overtaken by the beauty of everyday glimpses of nature.
Since then I have expanded my activities outside to include:
1. Gardening
I started small and have now expanded my gardening to include an herb/ornamental garden as well as a fairy garden. Gardening has not come easily. I experienced lots of failures, but I’ve learned to cultivate plants that bring me joy as opposed to trying to live up to an expectation of growing all of my own food. My fairy garden even has solar lights that come out at dusk! (If you’re new to gardening this article does a great job covering the basics.)
2. Chickens
We have joined the backyard chicken “groupies,” and had I known it would be such fun I would have built our coop sooner. Our chickens are incredibly entertaining as well as stress-reducing. Just watching them forage around the yard lowers my cortisol.
3. Laundry
I now do much of my laundry outside. As I’ve explored ways to expand my outdoor time, I have become enthralled with the old-fashioned method of doing laundry. It’s relaxing, rewarding, and invigorating. It’s one of the biggest surprises of this journey!
4. My Nook
I am in the process of creating a nook on my back patio. It also happens to be where I do laundry. I am slowly adding succulents and other plants to create a respite away from my workspace and kitchen.
Spending time outdoors has radically improved my quality of life. I may live in the desert, but I relate to the words of Robert Louis Stevenson:
It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of the air, that emanation from the old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.
(Excerpted from Essays of Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson.)
What about you? How do you spend time outdoors?
In this episode of The Connecting Place, I share more about my own experience as well as the experience of others who have benefited from time spent outside.
Hi Andrea,
I work as a medical coder now (am a registered nurse) but the financial necessity to work converged with the flexibility of coding hours keeps me tethered to my computer 40 hours a week.
I have always loved outdoors but find it really difficult to get outside now, so much time to get necessary tasks done.
Thank you for the encouragement, it really is helping with the incentive to start enjoying outside time again.
Sarah Pope
One suggestion is to diffuse essential oils by your desk, or keep a few plants nearby. From what I understand, forest-bathing for a few hours on the weekend can bring benefit for a week after. Great to hear from you, Sarah!
Andrea, I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) and I don’t feel well around diffusers. Example: Thieves. I love the smell! But when a friend loaned me her diffuser and oil to help “clean the air” of my house, my head started to pound and I had a hard time breathing. I chalked it up to the possibility that oils are a lot of hype, but not really good for us. So, I was surprised, then, to find that you use them.
So, do you have an explanation for why oils, even lavender, make me feel blah? Thanks.
p.s. why do you have a low fence around your patio?
We have the low fence to help deter the chickens from coming onto the patio.As for essential oils, everyone is different. I absolutely think essential oils give us a bit of the outdoors and can be refreshing and helpful. But again, everyone is unique. It’s important to listen to your body. Brain retraining can help a great deal with chemical sensitivities.
I was wondering just how long a forest bathing excursion should be in length of time….
This article suggests a 40-minute walk in the woods for proven results. See what you think: http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/the-science.html
Thanks so much for all you do get us to spend more time in and with God’s creation rather than with all that man has made. Keep going!
Nice to hear from you as always, Heidi!
Hi, love your pictures. I don’t spend much time outside in the summer. But, fall is the season that gets me outside. Being outside is good for your eyes. We need to focus out farther. I have a bird feeder that I sit and watch while I’m out. I thank the Lord for His creation.
We have what locals here in Tucson call a “barrio garden”….an eclectic grouping of found and inherited items collected together which includes a sitting area. We have mint and basil in pots from friends on an old wooden bookshelf from an elderly neighbor who passed away, a couple wooden patio chairs, and some barrels from another friend filled with tiny tomatoes we can pop in our mouths while sitting under the huge mesquite tree.
If I really have to do computer tasks, I take my iPad out and do it while relaxing in that shade. In the summer my iPad overheats fairly quickly and I’m forced to just enjoy my surroundings. Right now I’m getting hit in the head by massive shiny green fig beetles because there are hundreds of figs on our two story tree. The chickens are cackling and the children are laughing….all this in a fairly small yard in the city. Grateful to God for His good gift of nature!
I’ve not heard of barrio garden, Kim. I love that idea! Thank you so much for sharing.
I love this discussion! In Chicago, getting outside is relatively easy and very enjoyable this time of year. Please revisit this once winter hits — that is when I need ideas and encouragement!
Even ten minutes can do a lot in the winter, Peggy. Also opening windows a crack to let some outside air in can help.
Hi Andrea, I just heard you on Chris Fabry Live; listsening while canning peaches.
I wanted to add something to the idea of how getting outdoors helps ease grief. My husband died suddenly in 2012 leaving me with a 50-acre ranch to manage by myself. There were quite a few days where I just wanted to stay in bed all day – BUT – there were chickens that needed to be let out, fed and watered, etc…and other animals that needed me to tend to them. So I HAD to get up and go outside. Once outside my whole mental state changed – to get the bigger picture from God of what my circumstances were. Looking at the sky helped me believe that He is bigger than any problem I might be facing; feeding the hens helped me see that He is my provider. It was/is amazing and so definite – the positive effect being outdoors has on our hearts. Becky
Becky, Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I’m going to remember this when times of grief arise. So true about the big picture.
Oh Becky, I’m so sorry for your loss. You are so right! The only thing that has gotten me out of bed and in the sun was taking the dogs outside. Slowly, I started to heal. Sunlight on my face now feels so good. How are you doing now? If you need a pen pal, my email address is linda_devey@hotmail.com.
Grief and loss of a loved one is probably one of the most difficult things to endure. But you are right, HE is bigger than any problem we have and knows the plans He has for us!! God Bless!!
Thank you for reaching out to Becky, Linda. I know she’ll appreciate it.
Sorry, Becky for your loss. Although my husband is still alive, he is so altered from the ravages of Polymyositis that it’s sometimes, many times, I think a similar loss to death, even though he’s here. This is a good remeinder for me to get outside. Wishing I had chickens now. =]
I’m trying to learn this; with the extent of mold damage I have experienced in my health and the poor air quality here in Atlanta in the summertime it becomes a real challenge! I did get out and walk very early this morning and hope to make that a habit. Its hard to find an untreated lawn to ‘ground’ in around here!
(I’m still not settled in a home since we left ours two years ago for the mold.)
Question, though, I have been told that I can no longer keep house plants because of the mold in the soil?
Right. For those who are concerned about mold, I find succulents are drought tolerant and require very little watering. My suggestion is to find the right plants for you. You might enjoy air plants! No chance of mold with those. Any plant is OK, though if you’re vigilant about overwatering and watching for mold….but I like the succulents simply because it’s easier.
There are quite a few house plants that will grow in water, no soil needed and so no mold. Though some algae may grow over time the container can be washed out and new water can be added. This article give a good introduction:
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/growing-houseplants-in-water.htm
Thanks for sharing, James!
Andrea,
When it was time to replace our washer/dryer a few years back, we decided not to buy a dryer. It started out as a way to save money and energy and now, I’ve grown to enjoy the process of hanging out laundry to dry. I honestly don’t miss having a dryer! You have really peaked my interest on washing clothes by hand. I feel as I often do after reading your articles.. Inspired! 🙂
Thanks for writing;
Angela
If you enjoy hanging then I think you’ll love this, Angela!!! Thanks for the encouragement as always.
Great article, Andrea! Thank you for all you do. Even in suburbia I manage to throw my blanket on the back lawn and lay in the sun for an hour each day, weather permitting. I like it better on the ground. We have lots of hummingbirds, all sorts of backyard birds, doves, crows and hawks. And we are blessed with a quiet neighborhood. I enjoy the ever changing sky and cool breezes. We also get to the beach as often as possible. It’s very healing. Outdoors is much better than indoors.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Susie. The ground offers so much in terms of connection with the natural levels of radiation of the earth. I find myself drawn to a blanket on the ground too!
Last summer I was on vacation with my family. One morning I woke up with a sore throat and a full blown cold. We had plans to go to the beach. In spite of feeling sick I wasn’t going to miss sitting out in the sun and near the water. I rested in a lounge chair on the sand by the water for about 3 hours. When I got up to leave I noticed my cold was gone. It never returned. I believe the elements in nature made me feel better. I believe God created nature for us… including keeping us healthy.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share this, Cindi. That’s encouraging for others.
Where can I find a washing “machine” system like this? Thank you!
I bought the wringer on Amazon, the buckets at TJ Maxx, and had a friend build it.
Thanks for the speedy response. I’m curious to get in touch with your friend. To ask about plans for this design? Or if he or she will/does make them for others? Are you able to give me an email address? Thank you!
It was a young teen. He has since become an adult and I have lost touch. I’m sure someone can follow this if they’re avid woodworkers.
Fair enough. I’ve actually been looking for an antique manual washer now. They are still aplenty! Thanks.