Eco-friendly Lifestyle: 7 Mental Health Benefits of Going Green
The Earth’s climate has changed throughout its history but the current warming that we are experiencing is happening at a rate that is faster than any in the last 10,000 years. In the 1970s, the concept of human activity influencing the climate system was just a theory but through systematic scientific assessments, it is now an established fact.
Living an eco-friendly lifestyle has never been more important. It can be difficult to make these changes, especially because of our fast-paced lifestyle but there are several health benefits, especially for our mental health.
The Mental Health Benefits of Going Green
- Reduces Stress
Adopting green habits such as reducing consumption and spending time outdoors can go a long way in reducing stress. Research shows that exposure to greenery, whether it’s a park, forest or even a home garden promotes a calmer and more relaxed state of mind.
Practising stress management techniques such as deep breathing exercises in a green space will improve the effects of those techniques.
If you’ve experienced traumatic stress, you can also try somatic therapy for PTSD which focuses on treating people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental and emotional health issues through the connection of mind and body.
- Lowers Financial Anxiety
Most food waste originates in cities and yet most of us don’t realise how much money we lose on a regular basis through food wastage. Whether we are shopping online or at the supermarket, we often buy food items that we don’t need because we lean in the direction of “better to have and not need than to need and not have”.
We have become so habituated to food wastage, that when we see food that has gone bad, we toss it out without a second thought – without realising that we spent money on that food and that we need to change our habits to reduce our food wastage.
There are several practical ways to reduce food wastage, which in turn, reduces expenses. Once these practices become a part of your daily life, it will give you peace of mind knowing that you are not wasting money on food and that your financial situation is steadily improving.
- Helps us feel Grounded
Juggling work and home responsibilities can be stressful and leave us feeling like we are merely going through the motions day after day – work, eat, sleep, repeat! Actions like watering the plants in your garden or turning your food waste into compost for your plants can help you feel grounded and more emotionally and mentally stable.
If you live in an apartment, you can bring plants into your home whether it’s in the corners of your room or a shelf lined with potted plants. All of us have a natural instinct to connect with nature and other forms of life – embracing biophilia can also help to improve overall mood and reduce panic.
- Makes us more Appreciative
Most of us come home after a long workday and flop down in front of the TV to relax. While this does help us unwind, we should also make time to enjoy the natural world around us.
Even the simple act of going to a park, breathing in the fresh air, and enjoying the warmth of the sunlight on your skin can help you be more appreciative of your life. As the poet William Henry Davies said, “A poor life this if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.”
- Improves Mindfulness
There is no doubt that technology has improved our lives in many ways but it has also had a negative impact on everything from our attention span to awareness. Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle encourages us to examine our lifestyle and choices so that we are more mindful of the world around us.
Green activities like hiking or taking a walk on a trail through natural surroundings also improve mindfulness. Researchers found that mindfulness improves physical, emotional, and mental health.
- Provides a Sense of Fulfilment
Going green fosters a deep sense of fulfilment because you know that you are making conscious choices to make the world a better place. Whether you are reducing waste, recycling or moving towards sustainable habits, you know that your efforts make you a part of something that is greater than yourself.
This sense of fulfilment will also improve your self-esteem and boost your overall mood.
- Increases Social Connection
Social media was supposed to help people come together but for the most part, it seems to have driven us further away from each other. Joining a green initiative is a great way to meet like-minded people and increase your social connections.
Working with others towards a common goal creates social bonds which reduces feelings of isolation and gives you a sense of belonging. If you don’t have the time to join an organisation, you can choose a sustainable commuting option such as cab sharing.