How Connecting with Nature can help you with Muddly Midlife & Menopause!
As someone who has always innately known that I feel better (happier in my self, calmer, more content, more creative, more rested and restored in mind, body and soul) when I spend regular time in nature, especially time spent immersed in and consciously connected to the other living things around me in the great outdoors.
I have especially noticed how much it has been a vital part of my all-over mind-body-soul wellbeing as I’ve encountered all things ‘mid-life transitions’.
The Nature of Mind, Body & Emotions
Very simply, we need nature connection to function properly and to feel ‘well’.
Research from the University of Derby in conjunction with the Wildlife Trusts in the UK has very clearly shown that people who are regularly connected with nature consistently report much higher levels of psychological and emotional wellbeing. And this research is replicated time and again.
Our physical form evolved in response to the demands of the environment, from the mass of chemicals combining together to create the first form of ‘life’.
Our biology is designed in response to the natural world. A world with a wealth of ‘other’ life, of green and blue spaces, of fractals (nature’s repeat patterns, which when you know they exist, you see everywhere - leaves and trees, ferns, snowflakes, clouds), of sparkling water, ripe, round fruit, rolling hills and vistas.
And underneath it all is our communication system of hormones and neurochemicals, which signal our needs to our brain through our emotions, which trigger behaviours that help us meet those needs.
Yet we live in a world of hard edges, indoor living, unseasonal (both in terms of how we fail to respond to nature’s seasons, and also how we fail to make adjustments for the different seasons of our lives), and awash with intangible stressors that trigger our innate fight or flight response, that was designed for something quite different, and which therefore isn’t well equipped to deal with the modern problem, without active and conscious intervention on our part.
So it’s perhaps little wonder that at the various touch points in our lives when we experience natural transitions in our chemical make-up - (Adolescence (the path to becoming an adult, from puberty until maturity), Matrescence (the period of pregnancy & becoming a ‘mum’) and menopause (the path to….your second spring?) - we struggle.
Sometime A LOT!
Our schooling system, work and associated life is designed & structured with an optimal balance of these key hormones as an assumed ‘norm’ where we can think clearly, be focused, self-regulated, self-motivated and energised.
Yet, at these key junctures, during the transitions, it’s extremely difficult to have and be all of these things, because the chemicals in our bodies (in the form of our hormones and our neurotransmitters) are in a state of flux.
These shifts and changes in our body and brain chemistry reach a new equilibrium once the transition is complete – things settle, and we regain a new ‘normal’ that allows us to function effectively again.
BUT - during the TRANSITIONAL periods, things can feel HARD.
Menopause: Emotional & Psychological Effects
DURING the menopause transition we can find ourselves:
· Experiencing unpredictable, and sometimes extreme mood swings
Irritable – with a distinct lack of patience, and snappy (and with a loss of our normal sense of humour!)
Unexplained anxiety
Loss of confidence or self esteem
Sad, tearful, flat
Worsening of existing mental health issues
Possibly depression
If you read the emotional ‘symptoms’ of Adolescence (the path to becoming an adult), Matrescence (the period of pregnancy & becoming a ‘mum’) and menopause (the path to….your second spring?) you will find virtually identical lists.
And it’s mostly the result of our internal chemistry changing (in a weird way, how COOL is that?!!!).
The Mid-life Stress Factor
The list is also very similar to how we feel when we are ‘stressed’.
And this really matters in midlife because it’s a time of life when we are often experiencing multiple life stuff that in and of itself can feel quite stressful – because our mental, physical and emotional resources are being stretched. It’s a time when:
We may have reached a certain stage in our career where we have a lot of responsibility, pressure and expectation
We may be re-evaluating our career options, looking to change, or re-enter the workplace or start a business
We may have elder care, at the same time as supporting emotionally sensitive teenagers/young adults
We may be coming to terms with relationship breakdowns - past or present
We may be dealing with loss of loved ones, friends
We may be feeling regret for ‘lost’ opportunities or life plans that haven’t and can now never happen.
We may be worried about money and our long term financial security
We may be experiencing a resurfacing of old ‘wounds and hurts’ that we’ve been too busy to properly deal with, but which are now coming to the fore because we’re tired, emotional and reflecting on what we want for the rest of our lives
We’re dealing with a growing awareness of our own mortality
Etc etc etc.
AND THEN – we get the disruption of our hormones, just to add another layer to the cocktail of life!
Addressing such complex and nuanced issues is rarely achieved by any one thing alone.
And the menopausal period is no exception.
There are a range of things we can do to help ourselves at this time of life, including HRT, psychological and emotional support through therapy, or coaching, changing how we exercise and the things we eat, and looking at ways we can reduce stress levels.
One thing that doesn’t so often get mentioned is ramping up your dose of Vitamin C - your time spent outdoors and CONNECTING with nature. And this is a missed prescription in my opinion!
The Vitaman-N (Nature) Treatment
The benefits of getting outside into green and blue spaces, and the deeper benefits still of connecting with nature are becoming more well known and mainstream, especially for children and for people with mental health issues. BUT, it’s not something I see specifically talked about in respect of supporting midlife transitions, and it’s a shame, because there are SO many reasons it could particularly help at this time of life…
We know that spending some time outside in nature, allowing all of our senses to connect with other living things around us, helps us to get out of heads – it’s one of the simplest, easiest to access, ways of veing mindful, bringing your attention to the present moment.
Plus - getting out of our heads and into our physical senses gives our busy directed attention centres in our brain, the decision making and problem solving parts, a much needed rest, allowing us to feel recharged mentally.
Walking in nature is even better – by adding movement we not only help release some of the tension we also help our brains to process all the things, whilst we’re not actively focused on them (ever had that sudden idea or solution to something whilst out on a walk?). At a time in life when we have a LOT to make sense of and deal with, this has GOT to be a great thing.
Connecting with other life, experiencing awe and wonder in the little things, and the vastness of the universe, helps us to see things from a different perspective, often simplifying it, or at least putting it into a broader context – again, really important when we may be dealing with a lot of DIFFICULT and emotionally/psychologically challenging stuff.
Being outside, connecting with nature, especially if we are under trees, helps to lower our stress and anxiety levels by simultaneously reducing the levels of stress hormones (especially cortisol, which we can more prone to holding on to in midlife) AND raising our endorphins (especially serotonin) PLUS we get an immune system boost. If you add a tree hug (or a friend) you will also likely boost your oxytocin levels too – another of our endorphins.
Walking is physical exercise, and most of us can manage to walk at some level, so even when we are experiencing some aches, pains and stiffness, a slow amble round the block is doable – and while we’re out, we can spend time attending to the nature on the route!
Our brains love the sights of nature – the curves, the pops of colour, the signs of life, the glistens and twinkles and patterns (especially fractals) – they all signal ‘calm’ because they help to send signals to our nervous system that all is well.
Getting out cold water swimming, or just into the cold (now we’re in winter!) is also a great regulator of our nervous system – which helps our emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Glimmers and joy are common experiences for people who regularly get out and spend time paying attention to the nature around them – things proven to lift our mood and build gratitude and resilience.
When we step outside, with the intention of being outside, we feel naturally inclined to take in that breath of fresh air – which is generally a lovely deep intake – and this too helps us to calm and regulate our nervous system.
Being outside in nature gives us time and somewhere to be where we are not being judged, and where we can simply be ourselves – and that’s precious at a time in life we’re being pulled in a million different directions by the demands on us from our life and other people in it.
Taking some time out, alone, either sitting in or walking in nature is also a great way to empty our emotional, psychological and energetic buckets – being able to ‘BE’ with no demands being made of you for a while, allows you to recharge and reset your mind and emotions.
Nature is a great ‘playground’ too - and injecting some fun into our days in midlife is really important (something I’m working on!!). We can get creative with leaves, have snow-ball fights, swish through the leaf piles, create stone art… making a Christmas Wreath from some foraged foliage, pine cones, branches with berries, is a great seasonal way of connecting with the natural world in your garden or local hedgerows/woods (always gather responsibly - leaving plenty for wildlife to eat and shelter in).
It’s also a great way to re-connect with your heart and soul, if you’re feeling a like you’ve ‘lost touch’ with who you are. Time alone in a space where no-one else is passing judgement or creating ‘comparisonitis’ in your mind will help you to start reconnecting with your own needs and desires.
I’m sure there are a bazillion other ways I haven’t mentioned that mother nature can work her magic.
And whilst she can’t solve everything for us on her own (HRT, diet, good sleep, coaching/therapeutic support where needed etc. are all important too) connecting with nature has the capacity to make things feel a little bit easier, a little bit less overwhelming, it can help you gain a bigger picture perspective, and can add a little bit more joy and calm into your life - right at a time when you REALLY need it.
How are you going to get more nature connected to help support you with your midlife sticky stuff and muddly-ness?
Throw on a jumper, grab some wellies, a warm coat, hat and gloves, and get outside, on purpose.
It might be JUST the tonic you need today.
