Why You Should Try Forest Bathing
Sometimes I like to go off on my own, into the forest, with just my thoughts for company. Our house backs onto the woods, allowing me to quietly slip off for a solo walk whenever I feel the urge to be surrounded by trees. Sometimes I take my camera or grab the lead to take my dog for a walk; in summer I have been known to disappear with a book and a blanket to find a quiet spot to read. But most of the time I just take myself and let my mind wander.
The Japanese have a word for this: shinrin-yoku, or '‘forest bathing’. It’s a practice in-line with slow living and mindfulness, encouraging you to slow down and relax, surrounding yourself with trees and taking long, deep breaths. The phrase has been in use in Japan since the 1980’s, when it emerged as an antidote to the fast-paced way of city life while also encouraging residents to reconnect with the country’s vast forests. It’s the perfect way to take a break, clear your head and relieve stress, removing yourself from hectic environments and surrounding yourself with nature.
The mental health effects of forest bathing are numerous. Scientific studies have examined the benefits, making findings that surrounding ourselves with nature has a calming effect, reduces stress, boosts creativity and makes you happier. It’s even been suggested that forest bathing can improve your physical health, boosting your immune system and reducing blood pressure. We’re told over and over again that spending time outdoors, among nature is good for us, and that’s before you consider the joy and fulfillment that many of us get from breathing in fresh air and admiring beautiful landscapes.
I work for myself, from home, a couple of days a week and start to feel uninspired and distracted halfway through the day. It’s become part of my routine to leave the house and head into the woods - whether that’s for a leisurely stroll or just to nip into the trees and sit for a while. I always return to my laptop with a clear head, ready to get back to work. There’s something wonderfully calming about trees, listening to the leaves rustling in the wind and keeping as quiet as possible in the hope that you may spot an inquisitive robin or deer.
There aren’t any rules as such, but best practice for forest bathing involves leaving anything distracting at home. This means leaving your phone, and ideally any other belongings. Sometimes I take my camera or a book into the woods, but if you want to truly connect with the trees and allow yourself to completely relax, leave them at home. Don’t rush - either walk slowly, taking notice of your surroundings, or find a spot to sit down for a while. Allow your senses to heighten, paying acute attention to what you can see, hear, smell and feel. Breath long and deep. Shut your eyes if you need to, but keep them open if possible as the colour green has been shown to help you relax. Look at the little details - raindrops hovering at the edge of leaves, the shadows on the forest floor, light bouncing through the canopy above.
For a true forest bathing experience, you should stay in the forest for a couple of hours to completely sever yourself from the worries and stresses of your daily life. You might not always have the time for this, and there’s nothing wrong with heading into a woods for a shorter period of time to spend your lunch break or take a slow way home from work. And of course not everyone lives near a forest. If you live in the middle of a busy city or someplace without many trees, you can achieve a similar effect by finding an outdoor quiet place, such as beside a river, in a field or even in your local park. The main point is to allow your mind to relax and to try not to worry about to-do lists or your daily routine. Try to meditate, or at least to let your mind wander.
If you’ve ever tried forest bathing, I’d love to hear from you. How often do you do it and where do you go? Do you feel the benefits?