Time spent in nature, cheating on your cleans and broken records.
- Jamie Stumpe
- Feb 29, 2024
- 3 min read
🌳 Forest Bathing: A simple tactic for reducing stress and your waistline.
When was the last time you took a breather and just enjoyed the great outdoors? No tunes, no audio books, and definitely no endless scrolling. Just you, the cool breeze, and the rustling leaves…
Our daily grind can often keep us cooped up indoors, away from the refreshing greenery. Apart from our morning commute, we find ourselves glued to screens, buried under reports, or stuck in never-ending meetings.
So, you might ask, why does being outside matter so much?
"Stress" isn't necessarily a "bad" thing (Read more here). It’s all about balance. Too much stress, or a lack of balance between stress and recuperation, can really put a dent in our mental and physical health.
Or to put it more bluntly, chronic stress = stubborn excess body fat.
⚖️ The Stress-Weight Conundrum
This is a tricky pair that often seem to be joined at the hip. High stress equals higher cortisol levels, which can lead to feeling tired, headaches, aches and pains, overeating, and difficulty concentrating.
Managing stress is a hefty topic - to keep things light and simple today, let's focus on one tactic you could use to improve your "Stress to Recuperation" ratio. I'll give you hint it involves going outside...
🌳 Forest Bathing
Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-Yoku, isn't some high-brow ritual reserved for Zen-Masters. It's all about breaking free from the concrete jungle and immersing yourself in nature. Japanese research points to the amazing benefits of forest bathing, like reducing blood pressure, stress hormone production, boosting the immune system, and improving overall feelings of wellbeing.
⏰ How Much, How Often?
The research was based on a 2-hour Forest bathing session, but don't fret if you can't spare that much time right off the bat. I know time is our most precious commodity, so start small – a lunch break on a bench near your office, a morning stroll through Hyde Park, or a weekend escape to nature with your loved ones. Eventually, a good goal to aim for is 2-3 hours each week.
🌿 The Art of Forest Bathing
Any time spent in nature is a great start. To make the most of your time, here are a few tips worth trying…
Disconnect: Your devices can take a break too. This is your time to unplug and connect with what's around you.
Engage Your Senses: Feel the textures, listen to the rustling leaves, and soak in the sunlight. Engaging your senses enhances the benefits. What do you hear, see, feel, and smell?
Move Mindfully or sit and observe: Whether it's a slow stroll, an easy run, or simply sitting on a bench, the point is to be present and not get lost in planning or deep thinking.
Solo or group: Forest Bathing isn't just a solo adventure. Get your loved ones involved! Make it a family ritual and explore together.
Nature might be the perfect antidote to your daily grind. So, swap screens for green, unplug, and bring balance back to your hectic life. Your desk, spreadsheets and emails will still be there when you return, but you'll face them with a fresh perspective. 🌿
Notes: As I’ve touched on weight loss in this post, I want to clarify that nutrition is going to be the primary focus for this goal; that said, we can't separate one area of health from another. As mentioned before, high stress affects hormones, hunger levels, and the desire to eat. Improving your stress levels will have a domino effect on the foods you consume or avoid, hence their relationship.
For those interested in data and numbers, the publication of the study mentioned can be found here:
🎥 Cheat Cleans
If you ever picked up a kettlebell chances are you've had a few bumps and bruises on your journey to mastering the clean. Don't worry, it's a tricky move and it definitely takes some time to nail it just right.
Consider the cheat clean as your friendly neighborhood shortcut. It's like the training wheels on your first bike - super handy when you're just starting out, but you'll be ready to fly solo before you know it.
Give it a try 💪
🤔 Quote to Ponder
After writing last weeks post I stubbled into this quote; at the risk of sounding like a broken record...
The finest people I know eat the same foods, do the same workouts and sleep well. They focus on the boring things consistently.
P.S. If you enjoyed this week's Thursday Three, please share it with a friend.
Thanks,
Jamie
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