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           <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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    </div><p id="24c5">As much as I enjoy those walks at my local park, though, sometimes I need a longer escape into deeper woods. I want to leave my familiar surroundings behind and hike trails I’ve never explored before.</p><p id="ceec">That’s why my husband and I recently visited a state park about an hour’s drive from our home. I had read online that if we were there at dusk we would probably see deer, so we planned accordingly. The deer in the title image is one of many we enjoyed watching.</p><p id="aa3c">We also saw some unusual trees and other vegetation as we hiked. We heard the sounds of nature without the overlay of traffic noises, music, and cell phone conversations normally present during my walks at the neighborhood park.</p><figure id="0891"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*NxdTF2qnE0JX-NMKK_HNCQ.jpeg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure id="c857"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*xsH2SPk2_GURUVh_IGTeug.jpeg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure id="bac7"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*CXAClC47NFULC1rChKl6NA.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo credits: Wendi Gordon</figcaption></figure><p id="e48e">For several hours, we forgot about the stresses in our life. We were also blissfully unaware of the latest problems elsewhere in the world, since we were not checking emails, on social media, or watching the news.</p><p id="92b4">I was reminded once more of the healing power of nature walks. Spending time in the woods significantly improves both physical and mental health. That day was an oasis of calm, an experience of renewal and relaxation that my husband and I desperately needed.</p><p id="8954">There is plenty of scientific evidence to support the health benefits I notice whenever I walk in the woods. The National Park Service website includes <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/healthandsafety/healthy-parks-healthy-people-resources.htm">a list of research findings</a> about the health benefits of spending time in nature. Here are a few of them:</p><ul><li>Individuals exercise longer, more vigorously, and more regularly in green spaces and parks</li><li>Experiencing the wonder of nature can inspire people to solve problems more cooperatively and creatively</li><li>Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing</li></ul><p id="ed0d">As journalist Richard Louv, who coined the phrase “Nature Deficit Disorder,” notes <a href="https://e360.yale.edu/features/ecopsychology-how-immersion-in-nature-benefits-your-health">in this article</a>,

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nearly 1,000 studies indicate that “nature is not only nice to have, but it’s a have-to-have for physical health and cognitive functioning.”</p><p id="d69d">That article goes on to point out specific benefits of spending time in nature confirmed by those studies:</p><blockquote id="85f3"><p>These studies have shown that time in nature — as long as people feel safe — is an antidote for stress: It can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood. Attention Deficit Disorder and aggression lessen in natural environments, which also help speed the rate of healing.</p></blockquote><p id="b85d">Time in nature calms and centers me. It reminds me that beauty still exists in our sometimes ugly world. It reduces my anxiety and improves my mood.</p><p id="f7f2">What does spending time in nature do for you? There’s only one way to find out. Go for a walk in the park or a hike through the woods and see what happens.</p><p id="46db">I think you’ll be amazed by how much better you feel during and after that time in nature than you did before it.</p><p id="955d">A walk in the woods truly can work wonders!</p><figure id="1380"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*OCcJ5lexj-MMGQUsNBRYRw.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo credit: Wendi Gordon. That’s me with my husband Steve.</figcaption></figure><p id="153a">If you’d like more mental health tips based on my experiences, or just want to see my photos of a gorgeous Hawaiian sunset, read this:</p><div id="02ce" class="link-block"> <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/wendigordon/p/lifes-sunsets-and-sunrises?r=qs4u1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web"> <div> <div> <h2>Life's Sunsets and Sunrises</h2> <div><h3>Hawaii's legendary sunsets are one of many reasons I'm grateful my husband and I lived there for more than a decade. I…</h3></div> <div><p>open.substack.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*JaWqlQg-BuVdFGxW)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="876c">Thanks to <a href="undefined">Dr. Preeti Singh</a> and <a href="undefined">William J Spirdione</a> for the prompt to write about <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-walk-in-the-woods-d5b9e9f8c507">a walk in the woods</a>.</p><p id="a70a">For more nature articles with beautiful photos, check out <a href="undefined">Aarti Tailor</a>’s story about <a href="https://readmedium.com/reconnecting-with-nature-662cdc53219d">a day in the mountains</a> and <a href="undefined">Mia Verita</a>’s reflection on <a href="https://readmedium.com/rising-sun-68aac9b248ad">the rising sun</a>.</p></article></body>

A Walk in the Woods Works Wonders

Both scientific research and my own experiences prove that nature walks have many benefits

True confession: I suck at meditation. I mention that because so many self-help gurus recommend it as a way to calm down and focus on the present moment. I know meditation helps many people, but it’s never worked for me. I cannot just detach from my anxious thoughts and notice them as they pass by; they insist on taking me along for the ride.

What does work wonderfully well to calm my anxious mind? A walk in the woods. Even a short walk at the neighborhood park enables me to return home much less irritable and more relaxed than when I left.

As I walk, my attention shifts to the beautiful scenery that surrounds me and the unpredictable movements of the animals I encounter. I fully immerse myself in the present moment and my anxious thoughts give way to awe and gratitude.

I watch squirrels chase each other up and down the trees and leap from one branch to another. I also see butterflies, birds, and rabbits regularly.

Most of the time, I can’t resist the urge to use my phone to photograph or video the animals I see. Because butterflies are powerful symbols of hope for me, I have many photos of them. You can see my favorites and learn some fun facts about butterflies here:

These Beautiful Butterflies Remind Me That We Can Transform Our Lives, Too

My favorite photos of and life lessons learned from butterflies

medium.com

Occasionally, my nature walks at that neighborhood park include unexpected delights. One day I witnessed a heron walk along the water’s edge, wade in to catch a fish, and swallow it whole. You can read more about that experience and see my video of it here:

3 Keys to Success a Heron Showed Me

A heron (video below) showed me these 3 keys to success

medium.com

As much as I enjoy those walks at my local park, though, sometimes I need a longer escape into deeper woods. I want to leave my familiar surroundings behind and hike trails I’ve never explored before.

That’s why my husband and I recently visited a state park about an hour’s drive from our home. I had read online that if we were there at dusk we would probably see deer, so we planned accordingly. The deer in the title image is one of many we enjoyed watching.

We also saw some unusual trees and other vegetation as we hiked. We heard the sounds of nature without the overlay of traffic noises, music, and cell phone conversations normally present during my walks at the neighborhood park.

For several hours, we forgot about the stresses in our life. We were also blissfully unaware of the latest problems elsewhere in the world, since we were not checking emails, on social media, or watching the news.

I was reminded once more of the healing power of nature walks. Spending time in the woods significantly improves both physical and mental health. That day was an oasis of calm, an experience of renewal and relaxation that my husband and I desperately needed.

There is plenty of scientific evidence to support the health benefits I notice whenever I walk in the woods. The National Park Service website includes a list of research findings about the health benefits of spending time in nature. Here are a few of them:

Individuals exercise longer, more vigorously, and more regularly in green spaces and parks
Experiencing the wonder of nature can inspire people to solve problems more cooperatively and creatively
Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing

As journalist Richard Louv, who coined the phrase “Nature Deficit Disorder,” notes in this article, nearly 1,000 studies indicate that “nature is not only nice to have, but it’s a have-to-have for physical health and cognitive functioning.”

That article goes on to point out specific benefits of spending time in nature confirmed by those studies:

These studies have shown that time in nature — as long as people feel safe — is an antidote for stress: It can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood. Attention Deficit Disorder and aggression lessen in natural environments, which also help speed the rate of healing.

Time in nature calms and centers me. It reminds me that beauty still exists in our sometimes ugly world. It reduces my anxiety and improves my mood.

What does spending time in nature do for you? There’s only one way to find out. Go for a walk in the park or a hike through the woods and see what happens.

I think you’ll be amazed by how much better you feel during and after that time in nature than you did before it.

A walk in the woods truly can work wonders!

Photo credit: Wendi Gordon. That’s me with my husband Steve.

If you’d like more mental health tips based on my experiences, or just want to see my photos of a gorgeous Hawaiian sunset, read this:

Life's Sunsets and Sunrises

Hawaii's legendary sunsets are one of many reasons I'm grateful my husband and I lived there for more than a decade. I…

open.substack.com

Thanks to Dr. Preeti Singh and William J Spirdione for the prompt to write about a walk in the woods.

For more nature articles with beautiful photos, check out Aarti Tailor’s story about a day in the mountains and Mia Verita’s reflection on the rising sun.