131. The Value of a Nature Prescription

When was the last time you saw both the sunrise and sunset? What might happen if your kids spent the same amount of time in nature as they did on a screen each day? What might happen if you spent as much time outside in nature as you do on recreational screens? Prescribing nature for our patients and ourselves is good medicine.  The restorative power of a simple dose of nature is tremendous.  Nature prescriptions began as a movement in Pediatrics about 10 years ago. They have more recently spread to many other specialties too. Growing numbers of physicians are now prescribing doses of time outdoors in an attempt to address the high burden of chronic disease and our increasingly sedentary and screen-based lifestyles. As a coach, I also prescribe nature. Nature activates our parasympathetic nervous system and makes neuroplasticity more accessible and easeful.  This is why ALL my retreats are intentionally located in spectacular natural settings.  Nature works synergistically with coaching, mindfulness, coaching, and community.  Nature activates positive emotions such as gratitude, wonder, awe, and reverence. There are tons of studies about the impact of nature on health and well-being. A few relevant pearls of wisdom: Nature reduces stress, promotes healing, and optimizes rest and recovery.  Even a window with a view of nature optimizes healing in hospitalized patients Walking in natural environments reduces negative emotions, increases positive emotions, and improves work performance Spending time in a forest "lowers cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure, suppresses our sympathetic nervous system, and activates our parasympathetic nerves" Activities in nature improve self-esteem and reduce negativity  Time in nature "relieves stress, reduces depression and negative emotions, and increases positive emotions" Nature has a "cognitive recovery effect."  It improves concentration and daily problem-solving abilities   What nature prescription do you need right now? How might you incorporate the idea of "prescribing nature" into your own practice of medicine? How might you add more nature to your day and/or your family's life? How might you use nature to help you recover, heal or transform more easefully and effectively? What is preventing you from filling your nature prescription with us at the Mindful Healers Connect in Nature Retreat?   In honor of Eart Day, we invite you to give out nature prescriptions to those that you heal AND to yourself. We also invite you to take us up on our nature prescription offering. Join us at the Mindful Healers Connect in Nature Retreat. Loved ones, colleagues, and special friends are also welcome to join. Nature heals and helps everyone. If July 14-16th, 2023  doesn't work for you to enjoy awe and wonder in Muir Woods, join Jessie at Sagrada or Pie Ranch. All of Jessie's retreats happen amidst nature with intention. Nature is a key part of the healing and transformation recipe.  https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats If you want to learn more about the synergistic effects of nature and mindfulness, we invite you to listen to Episdoe 57. Nature Heals and Inspires https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/57-nature-heals-and-inspires/id1542538851?i=1000548730414 *Nothing in this podcast is medical advice.