China News Service, Wuhan, April 1st: "Generation Z" enjoys "spiritual recharge" in nature
Author Wu Yili
Spring is here, and outdoor travel and park travel continue to heat up. From Citywalk to Cityride, from "tree hugging" to "20-minute park theory", more and more young Chinese are keen on close contact with nature and enjoying "mental recharge".
The "20 Minutes in the Park Theory" that became popular on the Internet platform originated from an article in the "International Journal of Environmental Health Research": Spending a short period of time outdoors every day can make people happier, even if they don't do exercise, they just stay in the park. Even 20 minutes can make you feel better.
"I've tried it, and the '20 Minutes in the Park Theory' is true." 24-year-old Zhan Yixian recently shared his feelings with reporters.
At the end of January, young people played Frisbee in Zhongshan Park, Wuhan. Photo by Zhang Chang
Zhan Yixian lives in Shenzhen and is a graphic designer. "In the past, I could only think about drawing pictures and making plans, and had no time to take into account the scenery around me. Over time, I fell into internal friction. When I was too anxious, I would suffer from insomnia," she said.
“When I walked out of the office building, stepped into the park, sat on a bench and soaked up the sunshine, I saw people skateboarding, playing tennis, playing the saxophone, and people walking leisurely, humming songs, and feeding pigeons. In this atmosphere, I also relaxed. Come down." Zhan Yixian said. Nowadays, she often takes time off during her lunch break or after get off work to go to the park for a walk. “Sometimes I am in a daze in the park, and design inspiration comes to me.”
Lu Yuming, a young man born after 2000 from Shanghai, regards "hugging a tree" as "charging his batteries". "I need to deal with a lot of people at work and don't have time to experience my own life. Hugging a big tree is a way of solitude and a way of talking to nature. Open your arms, touch the cool bark, smell the fragrance of the grass, and feel like 'Recharging' is just as full of energy." He said, "Moreover, tree hugging is a zero-cost activity."
Lu Yuming also said that there are also etiquette when hugging a tree: first, you must observe the health, hygiene and safety of the tree, and do not choose dead trees or small trees; secondly, hugging movements should be gentle, and your forehead, cheeks, and body should be leaned against each other. On the trunk, avoid damaging the bark; in addition, you can also try to "chat" with the tree, talk about your worries, and say thank you to the tree for the power given by nature. By hugging trees, Lu Yuming also made friends with some "tree friends", and they often went out for outdoor sports together, which added a lot of color to his life.
Stone Kraushaar, a clinical psychologist known as "The Hug Doctor," explains in the book "Hug Therapy" that "tree hugging" helps increase oxytocin levels in the body. It is a hormone closely related to emotional experiences such as happiness, joy, calmness and trust. The reporter combed through and found that in recent years, Israel, Iceland, Finland, Changsha, Shanghai and other places in China have held "tree hugging competitions", attracting many people to join them.
In the "Look Up, Look at Trees" group on the Internet platform Douban, 120,000 members share the trees they see in their photos. The cell phone photo album of team member Huahua (pseudonym) contains many photos of different types of trees. She said that looking at trees can bring positive energy just like appreciating flowers, hugging trees, and visiting parks. When you look up and see new green emerging from the branches, you can feel the thriving vitality.
In March, Wuhan girl Xiong Ying took a walk in Shahu Park. (Photo provided by interviewee)
Xiong Ying, a Wuhan girl who works in environmental protection, loves bird watching. She said that shopping is a consumption stimulus, but walking into nature is the real relaxation. "When it snowed this year, I went birdwatching in Shahu Park near my home. The weather was very cold, and the sparrows fluffed their feathers to keep warm. They looked like a 'ball'. When I thought of this scene, I (felt) like walking ten thousand more You won’t be tired even if you step.” Xiong Ying said.
Mei Junhua, deputy chief physician of the Department of Neurology at Wuhan First Hospital, believes that spring is the season when depression is more likely to occur. If it rains continuously and the sunshine decreases, the light will affect the complex system that controls the brain's biological clock. It not only affects the sleep and wake cycles, but also affects digestion, hormonal activity and other body functions. Contemporary young people spend most of their time indoors. Going into nature has a positive effect on their mood and sleep. It also helps to broaden their thinking and make their mentality more relaxed. (over)