Timber is a natural and sustainable material that can be used in many different ways. Timber can promote mental and physical wellness, with benefits including reducing stress levels, lowering blood pressure, improving sleep quality and boosting energy levels. The understanding of environmental factors and how they impact both mental and physical health has been established a long time ago. It has been widely studied and recognised that green spaces, natural light and fresh air are all crucial to long-term mental health.
The correlation between our physical and mental health is undeniable. The environmental factors we are exposed to on a daily basis can have an impact on both aspects of wellness, as well as the quality of life that we lead with them.
– Reduce stress levels: One of the most common benefits that timber can provide is reducing stress. Unexpected events and transitions in life, as well as chronic stresses such as economic pressures or family problems, are all things that contribute to high levels of cortisol which can lead to a number of health issues including diabetes and heart disease. The best way to combat this is to spend time in a peaceful and natural environment where your mind can be at ease.
– Improving mood: Being outdoors has also been shown to improve moods, which will have knock on effects for the rest of life. When you’re outside it’s more difficult to think about all the things that are going wrong or feeling overwhelmed, which can lead to feeling more calm and in control. On top of that, a walk through the countryside can help reduce anxiety by lowering blood pressure and heart rate.
– Boost creativity: Spending time outdoors also leads to a boost in creative thinking, with the mind being stimulated by new sights and sounds. This is particularly important for those working in design or artistic professions as it has been shown that these professionals are at higher risk of depression than other groups.
– Increased Vitamin D: Spending time outdoors can also help to increase the body’s levels of vitamin D, which is essential for a healthy immune system and bone density. With many people in developed countries not getting enough sunlight it’s important that they turn to other ways of increasing their intake. One way of doing this would be through taking supplements , but it is thought that the best way to improve levels of vitamin D would be through spending time outdoors.
– Improved Sleep: Spending time outside can also help us to sleep better at night, as the natural light from outdoor spaces helps our body produce melatonin and serotonin – two hormones which regulate moods and promote relaxation. A lack of these hormones can lead to a lack of sleep, and so by spending more time outside we help our body produce these hormones naturally.
– Common Cold Protection: Spending time in natural light also helps the immune system work better – as it triggers cells which fight off viruses and bacteria. Populations who spend more hours out in nature have been proven to have a lower risk of contracting the common cold.
– Reducing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): The lack of natural light in winter can cause depressive symptoms and more severe winter blues with its associated problems, such as lethargy, weight gain, sleep disturbances and loss of appetite. Spending time outside during these months helps to alleviate these symptoms.
These are some of the main health and wellness benefits of timber and exposure to nature, which we hope will help you to rethink your home or property as a place of health.