Day 8: Anxious or stressed out? Can’t get to a forest? Here’s how to bring nature to you (and not just with houseplants!)

Here’s a quick 101 on how to bring nature into your home to counter stress and anxiety.

Attention restoration theory

Focussing on nature can help to recharge the mind when stressed.

Going for a walk in a forest is the easiest way to do this. The Japanese term is “shinrin yoku” and is translated as forest bathing. Staring out of a window at nature has positive effects too.

Benefits of immersing yourself in nature include:

• reduced stress
• reduced fatigue
• reduced blood pressure

Biophilic design

If you can’t get near nature, then consider incorporating nature in your interior design.

This is a burgeoning field fast gaining popularity. Some examples are:

• Indoor plants (real or fake)
• Home decor — floral or forest designs on wallpaper, curtains, cushions, posters, etc.
• The sound of birds (google “bird song”)

Wood

Experiments have demonstrated that the sight of wood compared to white walls and the feel of wood compared to aluminium and plastic can reduce stress. The smell of wood can also have a positive effect (think sandalwood and pine, for example)

But it’s not just about green, blue works too

Water is a large part of nature, so if you’re not a fan of green, then try blue instead.

Water scenes such as rivers, lakes, and waterfalls can have a lovely calming effect.

Tune in to what works for you and get creative with it!

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