Fresh Air

AN EXPLORATION OF THE VALUE NATURE HOLDS FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH, AND WHAT WE MUST DO TO PROTECT IT.

The simple act of taking a deep breath and relishing in the everyday miracles of birds chirping, babbling brooks, and sunshine peeking through tree branches. Feeling that rush of calm and serenity knowing that you are in the here and the now. This feeling is so effortless but, at the same time, can be so very rare. It is not always easy or even appealing to open the door and see the world in its actuality with the entire world at our fingertips, housed on our screens. It is often overlooked to peer into what is transpiring right in front us and breathe.

For a long time, many took for granted those aforementioned everyday miracles. The healing experience of breathing beyond the confines of our four-walled homes has always been within reach, but rarely appreciated. Ignored and overlooked, that was, until last March. In the blink of an eye, the outdoors became a newfound oasis. Suddenly, a daily walk had taken on the excitement of a night on the town, and a hike was as hot of a commodity as a Birkin bag. During the lockdown, a fire was lit in many and a light was shone on what has been there for us all along: the outdoors. As David Attenborough said in his newest Netflix documentary, A Life On Our Planet, “People were coming to care for the natural world as they were being made aware of the natural world”. A treasure that was present all along had been discovered.

Throughout quarantine, the gaze shifted to mental health and wellness, and people came to notice a tool that has been there since the beginning of time, nature. Sometimes, the best medicine is to step outside, soak up the sun, and take a breath. Whether it’s taking a walk, sipping a warm cup of coffee on your fire escape, riding a bike, or enjoying a delicious picnic, studies have shown that fresh air can genuinely make you happier. A 2015 study reported by Harvard University saw those who walked for 90 minutes in either a natural or an urban setting had lower activity in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region active while one has repetitive–and most times negative–thoughts. The rejuvenating effects of nature have been proven to be so powerful that governments worldwide are beginning to view time outside as a legitimate prescription. In 2018, NHS Shetland, a government-run hospital system in Scotland, began allowing doctors at various medical practices to write nature prescriptions that promote outdoor activities. Additionally, according to the Institute at the Golden Gate’s 2018 ParkRx Census, there were 71 programs in 32 states for “Nature-Prescription initiatives” in which time outside was viewed as a form of healing.

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Sometimes, the best medicine is to step

p outside, soak up the sun, and take a b reath .

IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BREATH AND REALIZE WHAT NATURE TRULY IS: A GIFT

While the phenomenon of simply breathing and reveling in the natural world may feel trivial and ever so accessible, it is in tremendous jeopardy. Nature can only continue to be a great soothing power if treated properly. At this moment, The Wildlife Conservation Society shares that a mere “23 percent of the world’s landmass can now be considered wilderness, with the rest—excluding Antarctica—lost to the direct effects of human activities.” Overfishing, deforestation, and exploiting natural resources for human use have vast negative impacts on the environment. Currently, our planet’s biodiversity is at immense risk of slipping through our fingers. One can only thrive if everything around is thriving as well. By destroying the sole planet we inhabit, we play an active role in eliminating the environment created for us to flourish, heal, and breathe. After these months of exploring the feelings this world can evoke in us–that no amount of hours scrolling through Instagram or TikTok can replicate– it has become evident the true meaning of fresh air. Of course, we should care about saving nature because it is beautiful, because innocent animals are losing their homes to deforestation, and because our coral reefs are magical. But at the end of the day, we need to cherish our Earth because there is nothing more crucial for our survival. We need to take care of nature because even if we don’t always realize it, nature takes care of us.

Nature gives us respite when chaos feels like it has taken over, and gives us consistency when the rest of the world feels as though it has been turned upside down. It may have taken a global pandemic to turn human eyes onto the value of fresh air and the natural world, but the message has been clearly received. Now is the time to take note of nature and its ethereal beauty. It’s essential to educate ourselves and take steps to ensure we can keep it around for much, much longer.