Here are 10 things you can do to improve your health and wellbeing in Agnes Water 1770, simply by getting out into our natural surroundings, something we all need to unwind from the stresses of modern life.
Each one is backed by research showing real health benefits, so immerse yourself in this beautiful place and enjoy some pure, natural advice for being the best you can be.
1. Bird listening
Wake up early and lie there listening to the array of native and migratory birds on the edge of the southern Great Barrier Reef. US researchers who analysed natural sounds recorded at 251 sites in 68 national parks found that bird song was among the sounds most strongly linked with lower stress and annoyance.
2. Bird watching
After lying quietly listening to those stress-relieving birds, make your favourite brew and sit watching the beautiful array of species. A study by the University of Queensland, the University of Exeter and the British Trust for Ornithology found that people living in neighbourhoods with more birds, shrubs and trees were less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and stress.
3. Nature bathing
With national parks on either side of Agnes Water and 1770, you’re spoilt for choice. Studies of time spent in nature, sometimes called “forest bathing”, have found benefits such as:
- Lower blood pressure and stress hormones
- A calmer nervous system
- Improved mental health and mood
4. Being in “blue spaces”
There’s a good reason gazing at big blue spaces feels so good, and here in Agnes we’re surrounded by them. A review of 35 studies found that living near and spending time around water was linked with better mental health and wellbeing and more physical activity, with some evidence of benefits for general health.
5. Listening to water sounds
The same national parks research found that water sounds, like the waves rolling in, improved positive emotions and health outcomes.
6. Breathing quality air
Agnes Water’s air quality is rated good most of the time (check Queensland’s live air data). The Forum of International Respiratory Societies reviewed evidence showing that when air pollution falls, health improves remarkably quickly, with fewer hospital visits and deaths from heart and lung disease.
7. Snorkelling
Close your eyes and remember the beautiful sights and sounds of the incredible underwater world on the southern Great Barrier Reef; it’s a meditation in itself. Snorkelling also:
- Gives your heart and lungs a gentle workout
- Is easy on the joints thanks to the buoyancy of the water
- Encourages slow, deep breathing that helps you relax and reduces stress
8. Bushwalking
Japanese studies have found that breathing in phytoncides, the natural aromatic oils released by trees, may give your immune system a boost. Eucalypts release their own aromatic oils, although the Australian bush hasn’t been studied in the same way. Researchers are also exploring whether the variety of microbes from leaves and soil in the bush is good for us.
A Stanford University study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that a 90-minute walk in nature reduced rumination (dwelling on the same negative thoughts, a risk factor for depression) and activity in a brain region linked with it, compared with walking in an urban environment.
9. Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP)
Paddleboarding builds strength in your shoulders, back, legs and core, and it’s a wonderful, mindful way to be on the water. Time outdoors also gives you a natural dose of vitamin D (don’t forget your sunscreen), and research shows outdoor exercise and water-based activities can lift mood and ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.
10. Surfing
Beyond the many physical and heart-healthy benefits, surfing:
- Releases noradrenaline, increasing your heart rate, breathing and blood flow
- Boosts serotonin, which helps reduce anxiety and stress and makes you feel happier
- Releases endorphins, your natural painkillers, for that euphoric feeling
- Releases dopamine, which triggers the brain’s reward and pleasure centres
- Is often described as a form of moving meditation, and surf therapy programs are being used to support people with anxiety, depression and PTSD
Stay safe in the water
Swim and surf at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags. In warmer months (roughly November to May), wear a full-length stinger suit to protect against marine stingers. Slip, slop, slap, seek shade and slide on sunglasses, and snorkel with a buddy.
Still not convinced?
Mounting research supports the benefits of nature for the mind. Experiments have found that time in natural environments improves working memory, cognitive flexibility and attention, while busy urban environments tend to drain our attention. If you’re hungry for more on nature’s impact on wellbeing, visit the American Psychological Association.
Stay happy, healthy and well!
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By Cassandra Austin
