Florence Williams, an outstanding novelist, journalist, and mother gave a keynote speech about her award-winning book, The Nature Fix. This book is so well known that it was decided to be the University of Idaho’s common read for this year.
Since writing the book in 2017 Williams has been busy as a journalist writing for Outside magazine and The Power of Awe and many other projects.
Williams was inspired to write the book after her family went through a huge move, “I spent most of my life living in the Rocky Mountains until my family moved to Washington DC.” said Williams.
This was a huge move for her, she would go from hiking around her backyard and the trails all around Colorado, to an urban environment with planes constantly creating noise pollution. Williams took notice that there were few children playing outside in Washington DC.
Globally more people will be migrating to cities “We are now living in the largest mass migration in human history.” Williams said.
About 70% of people will be living in cities by 2030, which is a huge change in urban society according to Williams.
Williams spent time in Japan learning about a popular ritual called Forest Bathing, which she mentions in her book. This was a popular ritual, especially in the 1980s, and continues to be used today.
Scientists looked at how much forest bathing was affecting the body, and there were significant drops in blood pressure, heart rate, and more. After authoring her book Williams was asked to write for National Geographic about similar healing rituals in South Korea. It is called Forest Therapy.
“They would designate entire forests for healing forests,” Williams said.
South Korea believes that there should be entire forests managed for human mental health. A group of firefighters with PTSD participated in a three-day retreat that included partner yoga meditation and other relaxing activities. Williams asked one of the firefighters who participated in the retreat if it worked.
“I could see his shoulders relax and he said I wish I could be here all the time,” said Williams.
Like the therapy forests, in Sweden, there is a 12-week program for severe burnout, which focuses on sitting and reflecting on your life. It wakes up your sensory bodies. Williams said that there was a 60% return to work rate due to the program.
Williams shared that while on her adventures around the world, she spoke to a man named Dr. Ching Lee who shared a special remedy to help with mental health. He called it his “Hinoki oil.” Williams said it smelled, “like a combination of Christmas tree and vapor rub.”
Despite the smell, it had an increase of 30% in natural killer immune cells. Along with his Hinoki oil Dr. Le suggests walking into a forest once a month, it will also improve your health and make you feel much better according to Lee.
There are two things in nature that can improve mental health without doing physical activity according to Williams. The first thing she mentioned was the color in nature. She said the colors in nature can make us feel safe, because of the natural fractal patterns.
“When you see a fractal pattern it actually changes your brain waves,” Williams said.
The other way that you can improve your mental health is by looking in awe. Williams defined awe as, “the ability to see beauty.” There are many beautiful things in nature, a sunset, a person, a smell. The ability to see awe can make people be more social.
Williams shared how much everyone needs a park, that does not mean a playground. She said: “Parks are good in times of crisis, they promote urgent biophilia.” She discussed how parks are a great way to heal from trauma, such as PTSD and potential burnout.
The final thing that Williams shared was ways that everyone can stay active in nature.
“Go for walks in the morning, work near natural daylight, minimize human noise pollution, drive or walk in nature, lobby for green schoolyards and have more recess and take the kids out when you do that, and lastly take breaks outside from classes and jobs,” Williams said.