Think like a scientist

When I moved to London I instantly became infatuated with the idea of success. I walked out of the underground station flying past the sheen glass buildings, the faint screeching of metal on tracks fading behind me, and narrow streets speckled with tough-walking people, this was it.

Everyone looked so determined. The speed and spark was way beyond anything I had ever seen in a film. So when the media agency called to offer me the job, I hung up the phone and cried. Nothing could stop me.

Ten years and one crying baby later, the rose tinted glasses cracked. They cracked hard. I found myself in sweat stained tops with stingy red eyes arriving home late, once again, after an extortionately long, meaningless day at work. “Hudson is already asleep,” my partner said. I sat there eating cold pasta without seeing my one-year-old son yet again.

This was the breaking point.

I started to notice most of these tough-walking so-called "successful" people were stressed, unhappy, and lacking soul. Their glimmer was a facade.

My mental health plummeted even further. I was suffering from depression, even though the doctor said it was postnatal depression, I was not so sure. When you no longer believe in your purpose, and you get a heavy dose of reality along with a truck load of responsibility you were not ready for, it causes a massively dysregulated nervous system. Everything essentially becomes nothing.

I had to find a way back to myself, and a way forward to my new self.

It began from a big, expansive place, like a scientist I had to start with a question.

From that question, the experiment formed and then another question formed and then another. I had to let the big idea turn into whatever it needed to turn into. I was the guide, but I also had to let it be what it needed to be. In the end, I got to a very specific place.

The first question I started with was: what causes a dysregulated nervous system?

I read a book called “Lost Connections” where journalist Johann Hari discovers, through research and experts in various fields, that this sadness (or dysregulation) can be caused by the following:

• Disconnection from meaningful work - when we are disconnected from work that provides a sense of purpose, autonomy, and fulfilment, it can lead to mental health problems.

• Disconnection from other people - The breakdown of meaningful relationships and isolation can contribute to our mental health. A lack of social support and disconnectedness from others can be a significant factor.

• Disconnection from meaningful values - when people’s lives are not aligned with their core values and they are forced to live in ways that contradict their beliefs, it can lead to dysregulation. Creating a life that aligns with personal values and exploring ways to create a life that aligns with one’s authentic self.

• Disconnection from nature - the downfall of urbanisation and modern lifestyles that often separate people from nature. He explores research suggesting that spending time in natural environments and having a connection with the natural world can have positive effects on mental health.

• Disconnection from a hopeful or secure future - the impact of societal factors, such as economic inequality, instability, and a lack of prospects for a secure and hopeful future.

Locked in a shiny glass building like Rapunzel at the top of the tower, I read this book thinking: Johann’s right on one thing, I am never in nature. From building to train I walk, I climb, and I surround myself with walls and screens. Bright screens that dull my eyes and dull my spirit.

So, the next life experiment question I had to ask myself was: if I bring myself into nature more, then will I reduce the stress and sadness hormones flooding through my body?

Nature, oxygen, and walking on the ground barefoot was the experiment.

I left the steaming bright city, put my head out the window, and breathed in the fresh, fresh air. It literally felt fresh. Breathing in the crisp, soft particles of clean air I noticed a small difference in my body.

Unsurprisingly, I discovered later that in a polluted city the quality of the air is compromised due to the presence of various pollutants (such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds, and more). Inhaling polluted air can have negative effects on respiratory health and overall wellbeing.

I spent the entire weekend in a forest, camping, away from my phone, or any type of screen for that matter.

This experiment seriously made me feel better. When I arrived back home, I noticed a shift in my energy. Although I was tired from the physical labour of living outdoors, I felt like I was buzzing. Like a car running on dirty petrol, my body and mind had been wiped clean with new energy.

Not least, the scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports the idea that spending time in nature can have profound benefits for our mental wellbeing.

A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that spending just 20 minutes in nature significantly boosts feelings of vitality, increasing energy levels and improves overall mental wellbeing. Participants who engaged in activities such as walking in a park, sitting by a lake, or even gardening reported increased feelings of happiness, decreased feelings of stress, and improved cognitive functioning.

Being in nature has a plethora of positive effects on mental wellbeing:

• Stress reduction: Nature has a calming and soothing effect on the mind. The sights, sounds, and smells of nature can help to alleviate feelings of anxiety and tension.

• Improved mood: The beauty and serenity of natural surroundings can uplift mood, increase feelings of happiness, and enhance overall well-being.

• Increased resilience: Regular exposure to natural environments may help individuals develop coping mechanisms and build psychological resilience, enabling them to better handle life's challenges.

• Enhanced mental clarity: Studies have shown that nature walks can increase focus, concentration, and problem-solving abilities.

• Boosted creativity: Immersion in natural settings can stimulate imagination, inspire new ideas, and encourage innovative thinking. Nature's diverse and stimulating environment may open up avenues for creative expression.

• Increased self-esteem and self-worth: Nature provides opportunities for self-reflection, personal growth, and a sense of belonging to something larger than oneself.

• Physical exercise: Many activities in nature, such as hiking, cycling, or gardening, involve physical movement. Regular exercise has well-established mental health benefits, including improved mood, reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, and increased overall wellbeing.

My next question to myself was: now that I know forest walks make me feel better, how can I increase the frequency of this wellbeing activity?

I am still experimenting every week on ways I can support my wellbeing. It's important to note that the specific mental health benefits of nature can vary from person to person, and the duration and frequency of exposure to nature plays a role. You can't just go for one forest walk and think it's done. This is always a work in progress.

The main idea for this week: it's important to test and learn what makes you feel good. We are all unique in the way we respond to different therapies and activities, what makes me tick may not make you tick. But it's always worth testing out a new idea or asking yourself a new question. So, this weekend I encourage you to ask yourself, what is one thing I can do this weekend to support my mental wellbeing? If it's a nature walk, then test it out.

Sending you all so much love,

Meg

You can find me on @megandtheboys