REWILD YOURSELF

Awareness of our situation must come before inner changes, which in turn come before changes in society. Nothing happens in the ‘real’ world unless it first happens in the images in our heads.” – author Gloria E. Anzaldua (1)

Rewilding the planet has become a mainstay in the environmental movement, but did you know that science is revealing many health benefits of rewilding yourself too?

Let’s take a look at what this wellness-balancing practice is, how it helps boost health, and some tips for rewilding your life to help it grow and flourish.  

WHAT IS “REWILDING”?

When it comes to nature, rewilding is a process of reintroducing native ecosystems, protecting existing wilderness, and letting nature’s innate abilities thrive. (2)

Rewilding ourselves means reconnecting with nature in our daily lives through activities and routines that elevate our mind-body health. It acknowledges that we humans are also a part of nature, and we, therefore, function best when we are more in tune with the great outdoors. (3,4)

While rewilding yourself doesn’t have one hard and fast definition, it does include a few key action steps:

1. Begin replacing domestic homelife with wilderness experiences 

2. Follow your instincts and passions more 

3. Turn off nature apps/tech and get your nature fix from the real thing 

HOW REWILDING HELPS YOUR HEALTH

Reduces Stress

You probably have experienced that taking a walk in nature helps you feel more relaxed and at ease. As it turns out, this isn’t just your imagination. According to Psychology Today, research reveals that being surrounded by trees, plants, water, and landscapes activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for calming you down after stressful events. (5)

A first-of-its-kind study showed that when participants were allowed to choose their nature experience outside a lab setting, two key biological markers for stress were reduced after at least 10 minutes outside, three times per week. This backs up many previous lab studies that showed the benefits of nature for improving stress levels. (6)

Boosts Immunity

It’s no secret that nature is a key source of ingredients used in the pharmaceutical industry, and some of the healthiest of these are known as phytoncides. Inhaling the scents of plants and trees that give off phytoncides can increase a type of immune system white blood cells known as natural killer (NK) cells. These NK cells have been shown to help reduce cancer tumor growth and stop viral infections. (7)

Increases Happiness

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of rewilding is the impact it can have on your happiness levels. A recent study of nearly 20,000 participants found that those who spent at least 120 minutes per week in nature were significantly more likely to report good health and high levels of well-being than those who spent no time in nature. (8)

Improves Brainpower

Nature’s effects on cognition, or the ability to learn and understand information, have been well documented. For example, one study showed that students who looked out the window at nature while performing a “dull” task made far fewer mistakes than those who looked at a concrete rooftop. Another study revealed that those who listened to nature sounds had better cognitive test scores than those who listened to city traffic noises. (9, 10)

4 TIPS TO REWILD YOURSELF

So how exactly do you go from rocking the indoor life to becoming one with the wild kingdom?

1. Go ‘Forest Bathing’

First coined by Japanese researchers who were studying the health effects of taking a walk in the trees, the term forest bathing is now used to describe a peaceful jaunt through a forest-like setting, such as a park or nearby woods. Some people even combine it with mindfulness meditation, tai chi, or yoga to further elevate their health benefits. (11)

2. Plant a Vegetable – or Two

Gardening is a great way to get back in touch with the land and help feed your family all at the same time. Even if you just grow one tomato plant, gardening has been shown to burn calories, boost your Vitamin D levels, reduce stress, and build self-esteem. (12)

3. Enjoy a Free Day at the National Parks

4. Celebrate the Stars

Since ancient times, celestial bodies have been used by people throughout the world to keep track of planting and harvesting times. (14) That’s why learning the constellations and reconnecting with celestial events like eclipses, Perseid meteor showers, and other astronomical occurrences (15) may help get you back into the natural rhythm of life. One small study even showed some big benefits to stargazing, including feelings of personal growth, positive emotions, and more expansive thinking. (16)

If you’d like to learn more about rewilding yourself, you can check out the ReWild Yourself Global Initiative’s free library. (17)

1. bookroo.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzaldua 

2. rewilding.org/what-is-rewilding/ 

3. yahoo.com/style/ray-mears-wants-to-rewild-people-help-mental-health-115158525.html 

4. gatherandgrow.com/blog/15-ways-to-rewild-yourself/2020/8/2#:~:text=Rewilding%20is%20answering%20the%20primal,feed%20ourselves%20%2D%20literally%20and%20soulfully. 

5. psychologytoday.com/us/blog/digital-altruism/202212/rewild-yourself-with-mindfulness-meditation-in-nature 

6. frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00722/full 

7. dec.ny.gov/lands/90720.html#Research 

8. nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3 

9. sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494415000328?via%3Dihub 

10. link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-018-1539-1 

11. mindful.org/why-forest-bathing-is-good-for-your-health/ 

12. healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/health-benefits-of-gardening/ 

13. nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm 

14. uvamagazine.org/articles/secrets_of_the_spring_skies 

15. seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-current.html 

16. core.ac.uk/download/pdf/228141074.pdf 

17. rewildyourself.com/ 

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