When I am feeling particularly bummed out, for whatever reason, I sometimes have a tendency to gravitate towards surroundings that don’t make me feel better. For example, I find myself scrolling my phone for an hour or two, laying alone in my dimly lit room. Although my room is a safe and comforting place to sleep, it’s not necessarily the best place to get out of my own head. After doom-scrolling and staying up too late all alone, I then feel more bummed, and on top of it I set myself up to feel fatigued the next day.
Unfortunately, the less healthy surroundings are often the defaults we turn to when our minds are not at ease. Sometimes the less healthy surroundings may even be the reason our minds are not at ease! We go into autopilot and don’t even think about how it could be affecting us.
What if, instead of my dark and lonely room, I went outside? What if I went to a restaurant with a friend? What if instead of a blue-lit screen with meaningless and endless content, I read an encouraging book at the library or café? Would my mind change, or would I feel any better afterwards?
Research suggests that I would. In a scientific study in 2015, participants were asked to report how they felt after a walk as well as to subject themselves to a quick brain scan throughout the walk – one group out in nature, one group downtown. “When participants spent 90 minutes walking through grasslands, they reported ruminating less than those who walked through busy city streets. Not only that, but their brain scans showed less activity in networks that support rumination. Being around nature may actually influence our habitual thought patterns.”
To put it plainly, if I want to feel better, I’ve got to get into places and spaces (and do things) that I know will help me feel better. It almost seems too simple! The simplicity of the solution here is its beauty. All of us can go outside or get out of the house a bit. All of us can get a pen and paper or grab a book. All of us can set that phone aside, or at least use it to call a friend instead of doom-scroll. We can set ourselves up to start feeling better with small environmental changes whenever we feel bummed.
Sometimes, though, the little changes to our surroundings may not cut it. You are not alone! Please reach out to The Willow Center if you need support in making the changes – just call us at 317-852-3690.
-Written by Chase Cotten, Community Director
