In a Call of the Wild episode, the 98-year-old naturalist and broadcaster shared his wisdom.
One piece of advice from Sir David Attenborough for those looking to reconnect with nature may be beneficial for your health. In a 10-minute episode of Call of the Wild, the 98-year-old naturalist shared his wisdom.
“Sit down. Don’t move,” he told podcast host Cel Spellman in 2021. “Keep quiet. Wait ten minutes. You’ll be very surprised if something pretty interesting didn’t happen.
If you haven’t done it, it’s extraordinary to do it in a forest. Don’t be too patient either. Although Attenborough’s trick may seem too simple, recent research supports its claim.
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This includes a 2020 study from Cornell University, which found that students who spent as little as 10 minutes in the natural world daily were less affected by physical and mental stress. In turn, ‘nature therapy’ is being increasingly praised as an alternative tool to help prevent anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.
We’re talking 10 minutes outside in a space with nature, according to Associate Professor Gen Meredith at the time; it doesn’t take long for the benefits to start to manifest. Every student, regardless of their subject or level of workload, has that much discretionary time each day, or at least once a week, in our opinion.
She then continued, “This is an opportunity to challenge our perceptions of what nature can be.” Trees, a planter with flowers, a grassy quad or a wooded area are really all that we have around us.
Reducing stress not only improves an individual’s mental health but is also associated with lowered blood pressure, better sleep quality, and a bolstered immune system. According to Professor Heather Eliassen of Harvard University, this can potentially slash the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, too.
The British Heart Foundation estimates that one life every three minutes is lost in the UK due to heart and circulatory diseases, which accounts for a quarter of all deaths. According to Professor Eliassen, “Research is also accumulating that green space exposure is associated with lower overall mortality.”
She then continued, “With more exposure to green space, both children and adults, have better mental health and lower risk of psychiatric disorders.
Attenborough has significantly reduced his red meat consumption over the years and maintains a predominantly plant-based diet in addition to his 10-minute wellness routine.
His efforts coincide with growing scientific concern about the link between consuming red meat and serious health conditions. He stated in a 2017 interview with The Sun, “I have undoubtedly changed my diet. Not particularly dramatic. However, I don’t believe I’ve had red meat in a while.
