I know you are not a mouse, however studies done on them when given a set of bacteria from soil has shown a marked increase in serotonin. Lots of happy mice everywhere!
A strange
phenomenon the Army noticed is that the best soldiers at spotting threats, roadside bombs and ambushes were those that had grown up in rural areas where more risk and obstacles are. Also the same for urban kids from 'gang' cultures that had to be aware of their surrounding as can actually be hunted by predatory humans! Those that were the worst at threat analysis and 360 degree awareness were the soldiers that had an upbringing in comfy houses with TV's and video
games!
A run through a forest every now and then could actually mean you may spot a threat better. Who's ready for that Zombie apocalypse now then?!
Some anthropologists even suggest that our children can actually be slowed in immune system development if they don't get grubby and close to the earth. Friendly bacteria in the soil moves to our gut
and enhances our gut biome for our entire future life.
So...are we getting too sterile?
I'm sure I'm not the only one who notices that the more 'grubby and rugged 'our kids are the less they seem to get ill?
How come our children get less colds in the school holidays?
5 whole minutes in a natural setting can actually increase our mood, concentration and wellbeing.
Long time to be away from the desk..or is it?
There is a growing movement in the health sphere looking for an identity. I've heard it called many things:
- Ancestral
Health
- Paleo
- Rewilding
- Neo Aboriginal
Even down to the suggestion that we need to RE-classify out species to Homo Sapiens Domesticus Fragilis..I find this very scary.
For some reason the below things this rising field suggests really does
seem like the right step forward to me:
- walking barefoot on grass daily
- run through a forest: this is harder than you think due to all the stuff you have to dodge, really increases natural movement
- cut out screen time from sundown
- minimalise Bluetooth, wifi, electrics left
on
- reduce artificial light from sundown (candles anyone?)
- get outside in some trees at some point in your working day
- drink water only, lots of it
- eat only real food (Max 2 stages of processing)
- learn about foraging (blackberries are a good start!)
- get you and your kids in the soil..mud pies!
- lower the temp of your house..more windows open
- cold showers (brrr)
- 30 min walk a night
- sleep in TOTAL darkness
- cool room at night
- have
something to hang off daily
- crawl more
- sit on the floor, cut back on sofa time
- less time on social media and more face time with real people
- hug more
- sit cross legged
- squat more
- give your neighbours more time
- stretch, mobilise muscles and joints: a good start is to focus on moving very joint that you can round 360 degrees a few times day and night (I've seen huge changes in posture and mobility in clients from just doing this!)
- minimalise clutter: do you love it, do you need it or does it make you money? If no to any of these get rid
- increase plants in the house
- reduce cleaning chemicals
- can you go more natural skin care?
- walk don't drive if possible
- lift heavy stuff: if out for a walk, grab a big stick and carry it for a while, throw it about
I'm not saying to move into a mud
hut or totally unplug yourself from the grid, however some tiny changes can really make us feel better.
Likewise trying to do all of this at once will be intense (remember one thing at a time!)
We we are a nomadic species by evolutionary standards so being rooted to one spot can seem unnatural. Ever get the travel bug,
itchy feet or randomly decide to have a clear out or shift about? That's your nomadic DNA at work!
Other ways we may illicit 'moving on' could be through job changes or a new group of friends.
Slow down, unplug a bit, minimalise those possessions and see where it leads you..
J
