Sea view helps cut stress levels - BBC News
Mon, February 12, 2007
photo: Key Strategic AB
The sight of the sea is the quickest and most effective way to reduce high stress levels for many people, a survey has found.
A poll of 2,000 adults by Hoegaarden found daily stress is a problem for 30% of the population.
However, 84% said being in contact with the natural elements made them feel more relaxed instantly.
Other popular stress busters included a walk in the park, the smell of cut grass and the sound of birds singing.
The most often cited causes of stress included the morning commute (13%), work itself (32%) and simply getting up (14%).
POPULAR STRESS BUSTERS
- A sea view: 42%
- A walk in the park: 33%
- Hearing bird song: 14%
- The smell of cut grass: 10%
On average city dwellers can expect to spend 73 days without more than five minutes of silence at a time, whilst those who live in rural areas go only 14-21 days. And they are almost as likely to have seen a mouse or rat in the last month (22%) as they are a sheep (28%) or cow (28%). She said that with little time off people were missing out on both the physical benefits and psychological benefits of the great outdoors.
TUC figures published earlier this year showed that the average UK employee does almost an extra day's work a week in overtime. "I have a theory that people derive comfort from staring endlessly at the television because there is a parallel to the way our ancestors used to stare at a flickering flame, and get confidence from the fact that it might repel potential predators," he said.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/4695711.stm
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