What Is Nature-Deficit Disorder and How Can It Be Overcome?
While the nature-deficit disorder is not a medical diagnosis, it is the human cost of being disconnected from nature, as coined by Richard Louv in 2005. The “nature-deficit disorder” describes what happens to us when we are cut off from nature. As we spend more time indoors, especially as children, we become less attuned to the natural environment, and as a result, we battle with shortened attention spans, weakened mental and physical states, and a variety of other ailments.
What Causes Nature-Deficit Disorder in the First Place?
A lack of time spent outside in nature is the most common cause of the nature-deficit disorder. As the world’s population continues to migrate to cities (despite anecdotal reports of people traveling in the other direction during the pandemic), the nature-deficit disorder will only become worse. Adults and children alike must make a conscious effort to not just go outside regularly, but also to discover other ways to include nature into our lives, as I’ll discuss below.
How to Get Rid of Nature-Deficit Disorder?
The good news is that we are closer to nature than we realize. While taking a walk in the woods, or even your local park, is a surefire way to start overcoming nature-deficit disorder, if work, parenting, or other obligations prevent you from doing so daily, there are other ways to overcome the nature-deficit disorder, or at the very least reduce its symptoms:
Start a garden:
This is perfect if you have space in your backyard to begin planting. Furthermore, If not, a tiny balcony or window sill with some potted plants will provide you with some green area. It is the way you may “go back to nature” daily.
Open your windows:
Enjoying a cool breeze indoors is a refreshing activity. For example, If you can’t get away from your work or other responsibilities for a certain amount of time, open all surrounding windows.
Take a walk in the woods:
Forest bathing (we also call it as “nature therapy”) is a wonderfully efficient method to feel the world around us. While it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to find the time to do it every day. Moreover, It’s a remarkably powerful way to feel at one with the world around us.
Our Future is Bright
The ability to recognize when something is wrong, is one of the best things about being a human. Don’t wallow if you discover that you are suffering from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Furthermore, This may be the easiest thing to solve out of all the things that can harm your health.
Similarly, You can make extra time to be with nature by making a few simple lifestyle changes. And once you do, you’ll notice the benefits almost immediately.
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