Why nature makes us happy
Coaching in the Yorkshire Countryside
I recently moved from South London to a small village in rural West Yorkshire. I grew up on a farm in North Nottinghamshire, so I’m no stranger to the country, but I’ve been surprised by how noticeably my mood and motivation has improved since swapping the skyscrapers for skylarks!
Like so many people, when the pandemic hit I began to re-evaluate what was important to me. I spent a lot of time walking in the parks in London, but even they were crowded with people. Everyone was desperate to be alone in nature – but we were all there together! My husband and I had planned to move to Yorkshire in 3 -5 years, but the Corona Virus situation made us bring our plan forwards.
The power of nature to improve our happiness is something that I’m really interested in. Whilst many of us intuitively know that nature is good for us, sometimes we all need a reminder to reconnect with the world around us and to actively notice the benefits it has – whether that's feeling healthier, happier, calmer, more connected or more creative.
Seeing green and open spaces has been proven to reduce anxiety, over and over again. There have been lots of studies in recent years which have found a positive relationship between spending time in nature and improved mental health, but clients often ask me how it can specifically help with their work-related stress or overwhelm.
Here are my 3 favourite reasons why getting into nature can improve our happiness:
We accept nature for what it is. If you're walking the Penine Way, or gazing out over Dovedale, you don't stop to re-arrange stones or re-group sheep into even-numbered clusters. In nature, we let go of perfectionism, put judgement to one side and accept the world around us as beautiful, just the way it is. Experiencing this regularly can help to develop better big-picture thinking and to control perfectionism
When we spend time in nature, whether it's on the moors or on the beach, we become part of an ecosystem and experience feelings of protection and respect towards the environment. This gives us a sense of belonging and can provide much-needed perspective on our own – very human - problems
Seeing wildlife in its natural habitat can help you to stay in the present moment, encouraging mindfulness and offering a hiatus from racing thoughts and mental to-do lists, as you simply stop and stare
Throughout the pandemic, I’ve been operating my coaching business online. Like in lots of other industries, video calls have become the norm and I’ve got to know lots of amazing new clients this way. But I think lots of us are now experiencing 'zoom fatigue' and with the country beginning to open up again, I am really excited to announce my new Covid-safe, one-to-one coaching strategy days, which include outdoor coaching sessions!
There are so many benefits to coaching in an outdoor environment. Walking whilst you talk can help you to access and express more of your thoughts and feelings and it adds a literal sense of 'going on a journey' to the journey of transformation that coaching takes you on. I am really excited to combine my business with the healing power of nature and to see my clients benefit from the positive effects of coaching and the Yorkshire countryside.
You can find out all about my one-to-one coaching strategy days, which include a break out and coaching session in nature here: www.lucyshuttvine.com/coaching-day but please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to ask any questions.
And you don’t have to live in Yorkshire to book these sessions! There are plenty of transport options to get here and all of the timings and logistics of your coaching day are flexible to meet your needs.
See you soon,
Lucy