For women feeling the pressures of work and caregiving, slowing down can sometimes feel like an impossible challenge.
But years of research point to a solution that all of us can take a lesson from: there’s a powerful link between spending time in nature and improved health outcomes.
It’s something that resonates deeply with psych coach and founder of Fit Mind Coaching Sheena Polese, who says spending time in nature can optimise wellbeing and prevent burnout.
It’s something every woman should take note of, she says.
“As humans, we can become so consumed in our head that we actually forget that we are a living thing,” Polese tells Women’s Agenda.
“Going into nature, whether it’s to a beach or a park, even more so when we get out into the wilderness, [it helps us] to realise, we’re actually really small out here.
“The sounds, how majestic the landscapes are, the magnificent skies – everything seems amplified. And that in itself helps our nervous system calm”.
Polese has experienced the impact of nature on calming the nervous system throughout her decades of hiking experience, and also witnessed it through the work she does in partnership with Tasmanian Walking Company.
From its signature walks to shorter, long weekend adventures at some of Australia’s most iconic wild locations, Tasmanian Walking Company has options for everyone, even if you can only get away to switch off for a few days.
Guests stay in beautiful accommodation immersed in natural surroundings, including private lodges in national parks and off-gird private eco camps. If you’re new to walking, it’s the perfect way to ease in, with lightweight packs and chef-inspired locally-produced fresh meals provided each day.
It’s these short stints of disconnection and immersion in nature that can do wonders for your health.
Nervous system on edge? This could be the perfect way to regulate
Neuroscience has helped us to understand that being in nature helps regulate our nervous system, shifting us out of a chronic “fight or flight” state and into a calmer, more restorative state, Sheena Polese explains.
“When we are in a fearful state, which is when people are highly stressed, under a lot of pressure, they’re often in a heightened state. When we go into nature, our bodies relax,” Polese explains.
“We breathe more calmly, our heart rate resets, and our system comes down. So it’s really good, really good for our nervous system.”
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Craving some time away in nature? You could win a walk for two on Tasmanian Walking Company’s world-first Uluṟu–Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk. Find out more.
If you sign up to become a Women’s Agenda Member, you’ll receive two entries into the competition.
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The best kind of prescription: nature
The benefits of spending time in nature are increasingly being acknowledged by the medical community, with clinicians even prescribing time in nature to help patients restore their physical and mental health.
The benefits are tangible. Indeed, a recent study found ‘nature prescriptions’ helped patients to reduce their blood pressure and lower depression anxiety scores, all while building a higher daily step count.
Polese says she’d encourage all women to take it on board and consider the benefits that a guided walk or nature-based break could bring.
“What I would say about most women is that we are ‘go, go, go’,” Polese says. “We rarely even notice our breath on a daily basis, right?”
“All of these things do affect our health and our joy and sense of connection with self. It’s so important to give yourself the chance to slow down a little bit.”
Something bigger than the ‘to-do’ list
Time in nature offers a kind of regulation that’s hard to replicate, clinical psychologist Dr Kaitlin Harkess says.
“Physiologically, natural environments help shift nervous system activation toward a steadier, parasympathetic state,’ Dr Harkess, who specialises in helping people to manage their stress, says.
“From reductions in cortisol, heart rate, and muscle tension to increases in attentional capacity, emotional clarity, and better sleep, spending time in nature will reduce stress and improve mood.”
What’s more? Taking time out beyond the constant pull to do more to embark on a guided walking trip, like one offered by Tasmanian Walking Company, can help women take a broader perspective on their lives and selves.
“This chance to be held by something bigger than the to-do list, while the bilateral stimulation of walking and hiking helps process life’s stressors,” Dr Harkess says.
“So you’re walking away with more clarity and groundedness – imagine a holiday you don’t need a holiday after!”
While it’s easy to think putting time aside to spend time outdoors is a luxury you might not have earned, we shouldn’t put it off until our to-do list is complete.
“Nature is one of the most effective and accessible regulators we have. Something that will help us keep going with the list… and we don’t need perfect circumstances to benefit from it,” Dr Harkess says.
A particular kind of accomplishment
As well as being great for our nervous system, there’s a particular kind of accomplishment achieved by completing a multi-day walk.
While Tasmanian Walking Company’s guided, mulit-day walks are filled with little moments of luxury, there is still a physical exertion that gives walkers a true sense of accomplishment.
Spending time walking in some of Australia’s most beautiful natural spots can also help women settle into a sense of calm that lasts long after the walk ends.
“Ultimately, nature helps women return to themselves,” Dr Harkess says.
“It’s less about “finding calm” and more about settling into it, which your body already knows how to do. You deserve it.”
Craving some time away in nature? You could win a walk for two on Tasmanian Walking Company’s world-first Uluṟu–Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk. Find out more.
If you sign up to become a Women’s Agenda Member, you’ll receive two entries into the competition.
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