Feeling Stressed? Nature Sounds can Help You Relax!

What is Stress?

Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stress is always with us in our daily lives. A bad day at work, a heavy load of schoolwork, or something distracting in our lives. All of these make us feel stressed all the time. Chronic stress can have an negative impact on our physical health. If we have a physical problem, it may cause a greater physical as well as psychological burden, and from then on we may fall into a vicious cycle. 

With so much stress in our lives, what are the best ways to release our stress? It is only through physical and mental relaxation that we can release our stress in a short period of time. Go for a walk outdoors and listen to the sounds of nature can be one of the best way to reduce pressure. If you do not have enough time to travel, then listening to the recorded sounds of nature or music would be a better choice for you. This will be the fastest and most effective way to help you relax your body and mind. 

Scientific Proof of the Effectiveness of Natural Sounds for Mental Relaxation

Researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) found that playing 'natural sounds' affected the bodily systems that control the flight-or-fright and rest-digest autonomic nervous systems, with associated effects in the resting activity of the brain. Naturalistic sounds and 'green' environments have frequently been linked with promoting relaxation and wellbeing. However, the new research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, is the first to use brain scans, heart-rate monitors, and behavioral experiments to suggest a physiological cause for these effects.

To investigate the connection between the brain, the body, and background noise, researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School in England recruited 17 healthy adults to receive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans while listening to a series of five-minute soundscapes of natural and manmade environments. During each soundscape, participants also performed a task to measure their attention and reaction time. Their heart rates were monitored as well, to indicate changes in their autonomic nervous systems—the system of organs involved in involuntary processes such as breathing, blood pressure, temperature, metabolism, and digestion. Overall, nature sounds were associated with a decrease in the body’s sympathetic response (which causes the “fight-or-flight” feeling) and an increase in parasympathetic response—the one that helps the body relax and function in normal circumstances, and is sometimes referred to as the “rest-digest” response.

Lead author Cassandra Gould van Praag, PhD, a research fellow at the University of Sussex, stated that the study’s findings may have real-world impacts—especially for people with high stress levels. “I would definitely recommend a walk in natural surroundings to anyone, whether they're currently feeling frazzled or not, even a few minutes of escape could be beneficial,” says Gould van Praag.

As the result of the scientists' experiments indicates that nature sounds music do have a calming and stress-reducing effect on people. So, why not giving yourself some time to take a vacation, go for a walk in nature and listen to the sounds that you want to hear. After a short period of relaxation, I believe you will be more positive, motivated and energetic to continue to face life. 

Ready to get into the world of nature with me? Click on the video below to give yourself a break!

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