The forest therapy trend is infiltrating our beauty regime, so can it improve our mental wellbeing?

These are the facts – a UK wide survey last year found that 74% of people reported feeling so stressed that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. A study from YouGov across 16 countries found that those working desk jobs regularly spend as little as 15 minutes outside each day. A survey from mental health charity, Mind, discovered that 94% of people who take part in outdoor activities (like walking or gardening), said it improved their mental wellbeing. Forest therapy is a term we’re re-familiarising ourselves with here in the UK (Google Trends shows a colossal spike in the search term, since May this year). But shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing” is a concept that’s been appreciated in Japan for generations. There, immersing yourself in nature and taking time to soak in the therapeutic and revitalising atmosphere of the forest, for the benefit of your physical and mental health, is a priority. Likewise, time spent outdoors is a cherished part of Scandinavian culture, where they even have a word – friluftsliv – dedicated to the act of getting outdoors in the open air. So much so, in some cases, the time is built in to the working week by employers. Of course, here, we know that time spent in nature is salve for the soul. But, seldom do we make it a priority. And yet, it seems attitudes are changing. “Mother Nature is at last getting her moment in the sun-dappled spotlight,” Sarah Ivens, author of Forest Therapy, told GLAMOUR UK . “Research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology shows that being exposed to restorative environments such as a forest, lake or beach restores mental energy, and that natural beauty inspires feelings of awe which gives a secondary brain boost. Studies even prove how simply looking at pictures […]

Click here to view full article