Discovering Joy Amidst a COVID-19 Lockdown

Following more than a year under various COVID-19 restrictions, many people are encountering challenges on multiple fronts. If you're looking to improve your happiness in the current circumstances, a recent study offers a scientifically proven method to enhance your mood.

Research has consistently shown the positive impact of nature on mental health. Spending time outdoors has well-documented health benefits, with healthcare professionals sometimes prescribing "nature prescriptions" to help with chronic stress, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, a study in a publication called Nature indicated that dedicating a minimum of 120 minutes per week to nature is advantageous for health and overall well-being.¹

During a period of lockdown, 286 adults in Australia were monitored in April 2020, when restrictions only allowed leaving homes for essential activities such as exercise.²

This recent study examined how happiness levels during a national lockdown were affected by outdoor time, daily screen time (TV, computer, smartphone usage), and feelings of loneliness.

Researchers measured perceived happiness levels using an experience sampling approach, checking in with participants three times a day at random intervals over a 21-day period.

Overview

The study revealed that happiness levels were higher when individuals spent time outdoors, while increased screen time and loneliness were associated with lower levels of happiness.

Additionally, the study found that the impact of loneliness on happiness was less significant in individuals who spent more time outside.

Viren Swami, a co-lead author and Professor of Social Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), acknowledges that while lockdowns may help reduce virus transmission, prolonged lockdowns can have negative effects on mental health, as previous research has demonstrated.

Dr. Swami's research underscores the positive effect of outdoor activities on mental well-being during lockdown.

"Being outdoors provides an opportunity to escape the confines of home, maintain social connections, and engage in physical activity, all of which can improve mental health," Dr. Swami explains.

In essence, spending time outdoors, rather than being indoors and glued to screens, can significantly boost mood, according to Dr. Swami.

Benefits of Gardening

A study from Scotland explored the benefits of nature, particularly home gardening, during the COVID-19 pandemic.³

Based on a self-reported survey, researchers found that older adults in Scotland who spent more time gardening during the lockdown experienced significantly improved emotional and mental well-being, as well as better sleep quality.

As someone who enjoys gardening, I'm not surprised by these findings, pandemic or not.

More research will likely emerge highlighting the mental health advantages of nature once the COVID-19 situation is better controlled. Currently, experts have only a limited understanding of why nature is so beneficial to our well-being during stressful times.

Offers Hope

Dr. Keith Tidball, a Ph.D. and author of Greening in the Red Zone with expertise in nature's role in fostering resilience, discusses the optimism that nature brings.

"For millennia, we lived in harmony with nature, as it was essential to our existence," he explained in an interview.⁴ "It's only in recent centuries that we have become disconnected. Nevertheless, we are naturally drawn to nature, especially in times of crisis, as we associate it with healing properties of hope and optimism."

Personal Thoughts

I believe that nature's enchantment lies in its ability to ease our worries. Perhaps it's the slow-moving clouds or gentle breezes that distract us from negative thoughts. Researchers refer to this captivating ability of nature as the "soft fascination."

I personally enjoy taking early morning strolls when the air is refreshing, or simply opening a window to let in the fresh outdoor air to rejuvenate me. Even a short walk to the mailbox can do wonders. It offers a moment to take a deep breath, look at the sky, and feel more peaceful and hopeful about the future.