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Becoming the most advanced civilization that we’ve ever known has come at a cost. We have our smartphones, TV’s, and electric, self-driving cars. But with all of these advancements in modern medicine, food production, and technology, we are the sickest and saddest we’ve ever been as a species. One of the problems contributing to this fact is the overwhelming amount of individuals suffering from Nature Deficit Disorder. In this article, we’ll go over what this term means, and the essential strategies to prevent Nature Deficit Disorder as a family.
Other Helpful Articles:
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- The Secret to Simple Living: Embracing Nature
When Did Nature Deficit Disorder Start Becoming an Issue?
It began after the Civil War, when masses of people began to move into cities and out of rural areas. But it would take over another hundred years to begin affecting the population as a whole.
All the way up until around the 1980’s people spent a large amount of time outdoors, for work and for leisure. Children played outside every waking hour they were able, and usually only school was stopping them. But even back then, children had over an hour’s worth of recess to play outside. The standard time for recess now is 15 minutes.
Even in suburban and urban neighborhoods, people knew their neighbors well because they spent time together on the front porch. Think about the parents and grandparents who simply enjoyed sitting on the porch watching the world go by, the children play, and the birds sing. When is the last time you saw someone simply sit on their porch for enjoyment?
No one is getting outside like they used to, adults and children alike. With the rise in technology and lawsuits, children simply aren’t allowed to play like they used to in the time of our grandparents. When imposed with too many limitations, children simply resort to being indoors on a tablet.
In his book “Last Child in the Woods” Richard Louv goes into great depth about this separation and when it occurred. It is a very insightful book as he is also the originator of the term “Nature Deficit Disorder.”
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder
The Correlation Between Nature Deficit Disorder and Physical/ Mental Health Issues
I’m sure that by now you’ve read about and probably even researched the many issues that underlie our physical and mental health complications. From GMO’s to sedentary lifestyles, there is a plethora of problems that remain unresolved but out in the light.
One of the common threads that is becoming noticed is our lack of time in nature. Children are spending an average of 7-8 hours per day behind a screen and only 4-7 minutes on average outside. You read that right, 4-7 minutes. Most adults on average reported spending less than 5 hours per week outdoors. Not only is this a problem for children, but for adults as well.
With the decline in our time spent outdoors there has been a simultaneous rise in mental and physical health disorders like anxiety, depression, obesity, and vitamin D deficiency. Though NDD is likely not the direct cause, it is part of the issue and addressing it can help to address these issues.
Signs and Symptoms of Nature Deficit Disorder
NDD presents itself similarly to many other disorders. Symptoms include anxiety, behavioral issues, depression, increased levels of stress, obesity, the inability to focus, poor academic performance, decreased problem solving skills, and a decline in physical and mental health overall.
It is curious that many of these symptoms are the same as another popular “deficit disorder.” Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD has risen drastically over the recent years. In a 20 year study beginning in 1997, the percentage of children diagnosed rose from 6.1% to over 10%!
As a mother to children with ADHD, I have anecdotally seen first hand the benefits that nature has to offer children with attention or hyperactive issues. I have seen my son go from a state of aggressive arousal to bliss with 10 minutes of fresh air. My oldest daughter, who is learning to process preteen emotions, can go from argumentative preteen to a peacefully playing child with just a few minutes outside.
If you or your children are struggling with any of the signs and symptoms of Nature Deficit Disorder then the next section is going to go over the different ways to get outside and combat this new problem that is arising among our families.
8 Essential Strategies To Prevent Nature Deficit Disorder
This is a problem best addressed as a family. When everyone in the family is meeting their outdoor needs, the household and daily tasks will run much smoother. All of these recommendations are beneficial for adults and children alike. They all reduce the burden on the nervous system and reduce stress.
These actions will enhance your relationship with yourself and your family. Try these for a week and feel the difference in your stress and happiness levels.
1. Reducing time spent on screens.
Adults and children alike are spending an average of 7-8 hours per day looking at a screen. Much of this takes place at school and work, so unless you plan on switching careers or homeschooling, there’s not much you can do about the time spent on screens in those environments. You can, however, control the amount of time spent on them at home.
Of those 7-8 hours, 3 hours and 43 minutes is the average that an adult spends on their phone. We’re always complaining that there isn’t enough time in the day. What could be done in the almost 4 hours that we’ve spent scrolling social media?
As a homeschooling family, I certainly see the importance of screens in our daily lives. We learn, socialize, and entertain ourselves with technology. There is so much to be gained from technology when we use it properly.
Try reducing the daily overall time on screens spent mindlessly scrolling or playing games and use that time instead to step outside for fresh air. A popular trend nowadays is having a screen free day once a week. Some die hard pioneers are even challenging themselves to a week or sometimes even a month without screens. I haven’t found the need for that in our household, yet, but I definitely seek to reduce the amount of mindless time spent on screens for myself and my children.
Technology is a tool like any other. Use it to gain something, but don’t let it take away your physical and mental health.
2. Schedule less organized activities.
We’ve replaced sitting on our front porch watching the kids play outside with rushed soccer practices and drive thru lines. The absence of free play for children and leisure time for adults has given rise to a busy schedule full of activities that we deem more valuable.
There is a certain pride for people to have the busiest of schedules. For their children to attend every class and every extra curricular possible. But research is showing that this is detrimental to our health. The more we structure and organize, the less happy we become.
Try opening your schedule for the month. There is definitely nothing wrong with extra curricular so long as they still leave room for free time. This is true for adults as well as children. We need time to reflect, to decompress, and to admire the natural world.
3. Provide plenty of time for outdoor play.
Though this seems geared towards children, it is just as important for adults. Though our play looks different than the play of children, we never outgrow our need for it. Play is crucial for human happiness.
For children, this looks like setting them loose in the backyard and letting them play freely. It can be building forts, playing role-playing games, digging in mud, or even taking their favorite toys outside.
Adult play is different, but can include joining your kids in their outdoor play. Hide and seek and tag are particularly fun for me to play with my own children. It can also include sitting in a hammock and reading a book that you enjoy, creating art outside, or going for a leisurely stroll. Anything that is fun and done outdoors is what I would consider outdoor play.
Try being intentional with your outdoor play and treating it as important as your bedtime routine. Do this for a week, a month even, and see the difference it makes in your overall well being.
4. Be a role model.
This one is geared towards parents. Children have a knack for doing what they see instead of doing what they are told. If they grow up seeing their parents enjoying the outdoors, they will be more likely to enjoy the outdoors and prevent a nature deficit.
This is especially important as children look to us for an example of what it is like as an adult. With the amount of distractions in the home, it can be difficult to keep a child’s interest in going to play outside. Leading by example can be just the nudge they need to encourage themselves.
5. Encourage resilience in the outdoors.
Humans are wonderful at adapting to change. Even if we are used to the comforts of the home, we can quickly develop resiliency to the elements outdoors and prevent a nature deficit.
As an example, my family moved from tropical South Georgia to arctic Alaska. It took a few weeks to acclimate to the temps outdoors, but we did. Because we spend plenty of time outdoors, we are able to withstand temperatures lower than others who have spent their whole lives up here.
Resilience is a skill that I am passionate about as a mother. I want my children to be resilient in life. There is no better teacher than nature. If you can walk outside on a rainy day and enjoy yourself, you’ll be better equipped to handle the storms of life as they head your way.
6. Foster a love for nature.
Once you find an outdoor activity that you really enjoy, that love and connection to nature will flourish. You’ll find yourself excited to be outside. You’ll look forward to it every day and will be more likely to stick to your daily outside routine and prevent a nature deficit.
It is hard to walk into a forest and not lose yourself in its magnificence. Try sitting out in nature and observing what is going on around you. Notice the birds, the insects, the plants and the way they interact. Find something that you really appreciate and nurture that love for nature in it.
When you develop a love for nature, you’ll be glad to spend time in it every day.
7. Go on Adventures To Prevent Nature Deficit
What do you think of when you read that word “adventure?” Do you picture climbing mountains, sailing into the ocean, or embarking on a month-long wilderness adventure? These are all dream adventures that we would love to go on, but they don’t fit into most people’s reality.
The adventures that I am talking about are very doable, some even a few hours in length. There is a certain book by Alastair Humphreys called “Microadventures” where he provides an entire book on different ideas for adventure. He labels the time commitment and difficulty level for each one. Some are short quick stents and others are multi day excursions. You will not lack ideas in his book, and I love that they are all achievable by anyone without physical limitations.
These adventures will help to keep the outdoors intriguing. We humans are naturally curious by nature and they often lead you to the most wonderful discoveries. It is important to periodically experience awe inspiring moments to soothe stress and remember our place on the Earth.
Microadventures: Local Discoveries for Great Escapes
8. Schedule your outdoor time to make it a priority.
We tend to schedule events in our lives which hold great importance. We make space for them and make sure to adhere to the time so that we don’t miss them. If we apply this concept to our outdoor time it may help hold us accountable to ourselves to get outside every day.
A popular “outside” schedule that I’ve seen is to schedule at least 1 hour per day of time outdoors. This can vary by season. We live in Alaska so when it’s deep into Winter and -50 F, 1 hour is unrealistic. We tend to make up for this during the Summer where we spend plenty of time camping and hiking. 1 hour is a great starting point in preventing nature deficit disorder.
Once a week, try going for a longer excursion outdoors. Maybe its that hike you’ve been wanting to attempt, or even a visit to the zoo. Spend 3-4 hours outdoors at one time, once per week.
Once a month, try taking a weekend camping trip. This is a great time to refresh and get your circadian rhythm in check. This can obviously be seasonal, depending on where you live. It takes pretty extreme gear to go tent camping in the Winters of Alaska. Go as often as you can.
If at all possible, try taking a week long wilderness retreat once a year. It can be as simple as an annual family camping trip during the Summer. This is where you will really get that feeling of a “reset” through nature.
Whatever way you want to schedule your time outdoors, make it a priority. Make it high on your list of values for your physical and mental health.
Conclusion on Preventing a Nature Deficit
Nature Deficit Disorder, though not a true medical diagnosis yet, is a term to describe the physical and mental ailments that have resulted in our disconnection from nature. It is a way to describe the correlation between our health issues and our lack of time spent outdoors.
This article is meant to give you ideas to help prevent these issues, and maybe to even provide relief from ones already experienced. Nature is essential for human health and happiness. In some form or another, it is crucial that we experience it regularly in our lives.
As the naturalist John Muir once said, ““Everybody needs beauty…places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike.”
Let’s dedicate time to getting outside. Lets prevent a nature deficit disorder in our families. As we spend more time outdoors we heal ourselves, our families, and our planet as a whole.
