Nature's healing powers Staying in the countryside promotes good health

Out into nature: doing good for your health through stays in the countryside
Increasing work pressure and stress endanger health. Relaxation and rest are important for humans. To switch off you go best into nature. Because stays in the countryside promote health. This has also been shown in studies.

Where stress-stricken people can relax
More and more complex tasks, numerous appointments and overstimulation in the big city turmoil: Stress and work pressure can make us sick. Nevertheless, it is not so easy for some people to let go and relax. Stress-afflicted people may find it easier to choose the right environment for their relaxation. An expert knows which places have a particularly relaxing effect.

Many people spend their free time in nature. And that's a good thing, because the mind can best recover in the countryside. (Image: marioArte / fotolia.com)

Free time in nature
Hiking, mountain and bike tours: Many people enjoy their free time in nature. They are doing something good for their health.

The environmental health psychologist Renate Cervinka, who has been researching the influence of nature on humans at the Medical University of Vienna for decades, knows this too.

In a message from the dpa news agency, the expert explains: "The mind is best recovering in the countryside."

Adapted to the pace of nature
She also has an explanation for why this is so: If you are permanently focused on anything in everyday life and at the same time the disturbing - for example, the vibration of the cell phone or the hint to the receipt of an e-mail - fades, the mind gets tired.

Nature offers a kind of counterworld, which, according to the expert, corresponds to people much more than the urban environment.

"Man is actually adapted to the pace that dictates nature," says Cervinka dpa. In addition, in the forest or at the sea, for example, significantly fewer stimuli are impinging on people than in a large city.

The mind must be allowed to switch off
That does not mean you have to move to the country right away. But after staying in nature you are more efficient again. According to Cervinka, this is well documented by studies.

Of course, a prerequisite for that is that the mind is allowed to switch off. If you sit with the smartphone to a mountain stream, this is much less relaxing.

You can also find relaxation in your own garden. But this should be just as green as nature.

Greening the home garden
A research group led by Renate Cervinka had found in a study that the recreational effect in the home garden depends on how many plants exist in relation to other elements such as terraces or furniture.

The expert explained in a message: "Our survey has shown that the more natural elements in the garden, the higher the recovery factor is.".

But the most important factor of recovery is the personal relationship to the garden. Anyone who experiences joy here and is satisfied with his garden and appreciates it, experiences resonance and can relax and recover well.

"The message is that you should design your garden close to nature and, above all, that you should enjoy it".

Integrate recreation into everyday life
Recovery should generally be an integral part of everyday life - including at work.

For the balance of job and leisure, it is important according to experts, among other things, to schedule times of leisure deliberately.

Stress reduction options include relaxation techniques such as yoga or progressive muscle relaxation. These can often also be integrated into the daily work routine - for example in the breaks.

You can also relax with a simple mindfulness training in everyday life. (Ad)