Living in a bustling metropolis has conditioned us to a constant cacophony of urban noise. Cars, ambulances, sirens, elevators, appliances, and countless other electronic devices keep us in a perpetual state of alert, often without us even realizing it. This is especially true for highly sensitive people (HSP), but we’ll delve into that topic another time.
However, have you ever experienced the pleasure of being outside cities or just visiting the park? The gentle sound of flowing water, the sweet chirping of birds and fluttering of leaves brings calmness to our minds and vigour to our body. It’s awesome, right?.
Science has shown that exposure to natural sounds and low levels of anthropogenic can significantly improve our health. It reduces stress, chronic pain, and boosts our mood, leading to better cognitive function.
While we can’t always escape the urban jungle, studies have demonstrated that listening to bird songs or the sound of water can help regulate cortisol, the stress hormone. In fact, Turkish researchers found that patients who underwent percutaneous coronary interventions and listened to nature sounds experienced reduced anxiety and improved breathing.
So, let’s promise to reconnect with nature at least once monthly. Whether it is seeing the park or making your home a tranquil space, let’s rejoice in the sounds of our planet.
Here’s a playlist we recommend listening to for some inspiration:
Let us know if you give it a try!
References:
R.T. Buxton, A.L. Pearson, C. Allou, K. Fristrup, G. Wittemyer, A synthesis of health benefits of natural sounds and their distribution in national parks, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 118 (14) e2013097118, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2013097118 (2021).
Michels, N., & Hamers, P. (2023). Nature Sounds for Stress Recovery and Healthy Eating: A Lab Experiment Differentiating Water and Bird Sound. Environment and Behavior, 55(3), 175-205. https://doi.org/10.1177/00139165231174622
Akarsu K, Koç A, Ertuğ N. The effect of nature sounds and earplugs on anxiety in patients following percutaneous coronary intervention: A randomized controlled trial. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2019 Dec;18(8):651-657. doi: 10.1177/1474515119858826. Epub 2019 Jun 23. PMID: 31232088.
