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Looking for a way to improve your mental health?

Just go connect with nature and listen to the birds!

Birds are all over, almost everywhere and give is a way to easily connect with nature.
Research shows that being out in nature is associated with better brain and body health. And just seeing or hearing birds has been shown to be good for our mental health!

Listening to bird songs have a special mental health healing benefit for us too.

Hearing birds sing:
*can help alleviate feelings of anxiety
*can help improve our moods
*can help reduce depression
*can help reduce mental fatigue
*can help improve concentration
*can reduce stress levels

Even listening to recordings of bird songs for as briefly as 6 minutes can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.

Research has shown that being outdoors in green spaces can lower blood pressure and cortisol levels—our bodies stress response system—and reduces our overall stress level. When we walk in nature we ruminate less because the activity in our prefrontal cortex that thinking part of our brain is decreased. Looking at the greenery around us engages the part of our brain, posterior cingulate cortex, that is responsible for our stress responses and this may help regulate our bodies stress reactions.

Getting out to experience nature, seeing and hearing the birds requires some physical activity which itself helps improve our mental health. And getting exercise outside may increase the overall mental health benefits of both.

To get the most mental health benefit:

1. Listen to what the little birdy tells you! Notice the singing, pay attention, be aware of the different tunes around you!
2. Be free as a bird and be curious about who is making those beautiful sounds around you! There are various aps available that can help you identify just who is who too!
3. Birds of a feather flock together…you might even consider finding a birding group to join in your area to share and learn more too!
4. Be light as a feather…stay in the present, pull your thoughts to be here and now rather than being all caught up in your head…let yourself experience the joy your little bird friends can bring to you!
Who would have thought that with a little help from our fine feathered friends we can improve our mental health!

If you are looking for other ways to help improve your mental health especially if you are dealing with depression or anxiety or grief do Contact Me today to begin therapy and learn some additional life coping tools!

JD’s Midlife Tools For Living Practices, Holland, MI
Offering Heartfelt care, Compassion and Coping Tools

To learn more check out this interesting article and hear recordings of some bird songs too:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/interactive/2023/birds-song-nature-mental-health-benefits/