Does living in a big city increase stress?
Emily here again, in my series of posts about nature’s effect on stress levels.
Have you ever had these days when you do everything on autopilot? When you don’t really have the desire to do the things you need to, but you feel overwhelmed and pressured by the same fact? When are you stressed and anxious without any particular reason? Or you simply feel lost. I know, I had. I have had these days for quite some time, if I’m being honest. I return to the big city: in Jakarta, doing all the things I needed to, getting back on track with my work. And still, something just didn’t feel right. There was this constant pressure, constant anxiety and dissatisfaction. I knew my stress levels were up, because I couldn’t sleep well. I was mostly autopiloting than I was productive. What was happening?
Call for a change
A month or so has passed since I last left the city, and it had a huge effect on me. My motivation was low, I simply wasn’t happy with my current situation, and I had no idea how to fix it. So, the following Friday I bought a train ticket to a nearby town and decided to get away for the weekend. It was a spontaneous decision, but I needed to change my surroundings, needed to think and I’ve heard that this town – Bandung is a home of quite some waterfalls and National Parks. Worth the try, right?
As soon as I got to my hostel, I asked for recommendations to go where I can be surrounded by nature, no cars and no city noise. Luckily, a 15 min (drive) away was a big Botanic Park where you can hike and go to caves and even waterfalls. The moment I stepped in, something in me changed.
The perfect gateway
I was surrounded by so much green and so many trees that I stopped for a minute to just absorb it. I realised it’s been so long since I have seen so many trees. I started walking without a particular direction, I was just enjoying the fact that I could walk without the fear of danger by moving vehicles or lack of pedestrian space. And suddenly, I was happy again. Suddenly, all the worries, all the piled-up stress and anxiety just disappeared. With every new step I took surrounded by this beautiful peace and quietness I felt calmer. I felt free. Walking alone along the trees, exploring every path, every creek, without the need to rush, was just recharging by itself.
I was fascinated how quickly my mood shifted, how easy it felt to change perspective to the positive side, how light my body felt and how much more excited I was. I took the time to reflect on the past month, to meditate and to think about why I felt so much better now. Nothing really changed, except for my surroundings. Not my financial situation, my schedule, my habits… none of these have changed. However, I was feeling as my body and mind have been completely refreshed.
Disconnect to reconnect
It's incredible how fast you can disconnect with the daily distractions and the stress and reconnect with nature. The sound of the trees, the fresh air, the breeze. Even something as simple as walking in the forest can completely change your mood.
I spend the whole three days of my so-called ‘’retreat’’ outside. I went on hikes to some waterfalls, explored a crater and even bumped into an Indonesian wedding but that was a complete surprise to everyone! Jokes aside, I felt reborn.
I have come to realise how easy it is to fall into the pattern of the city life. With all the chores, to-do lists and 9-5 jobs, we don’t really have the time to breathe and feel. And this is what the nature retreats make you do.
Why nature retreats
Speaking from personal experience, life in the big city and inside the corporative world is not easy. It can wear you out without even noticing and cause a negative impact on one’s overall life and well-being. There is scientific research on eco-therapy which proves how doing nature retreats have a positive therapeutic effect on out wellness and mental health. Personally, as someone who is always on the go, maintain as many tasks as I can possibly can, going on such retreats help me reconnect with myself and collect my thoughts. Recharge and pause for a minute.
The benefits of nature retreats
I will list my top three benefits nature retreats have, which are not only scientifically proven but I also noticed in my personal wellness journey during my retreat:
It reduces stress and anxiety
As I mentioned before, I felt really overwhelmed and stressed lately and the moment I spend more time in the great outdoors, I felt how this pressure got released. As I was holding my breath for too long and finally could breathe in again. Additionally, research has shown that the levels of the stress hormone cortisol can be lowered if one is spending time in nature. Also, it has a calming effect on the mind which helps with the reduction of anxiety and encourage relaxation.
Increases creativity and productivity
Being surrounded by nature has proven to make you more inspired creatively and it increases your desire for productive work. While walking I felt extremely inspired to write, I had a couple of new ideas for different projects that I have been stuck on forever and in general: create. Research has proven that spending time in nature can improve cognitive function, such as problem-solving and attention memory.
Boosts mood and mental health
Nature retreats are the perfect gateway from the fast-paced pressuring environment and promotes the slow life, where you can enjoy the moment, appreciate It and simply live in it. Having that calmness automatically shifts one’s perspective on life to a more positive point of view. It releases dopamine – the hormone of happiness in our brain and generally makes us happier. I was filled with joy the moment I stepped in that forest, completely absorbed by my surroundings, forgetting what has been worrying me beforehand.
I went back to the city so much lighter, as if this three-day retreat has been a whole week of vacation. I hope this blog helped you see how being out in nature can help you feel so much better, and my personal experience can tell you right. AME offers this amazing opportunity in the astonishing Bulgarian mountains and provides you with an unforgettable calming experience of reconnection.
