Are You Suffering the Negative Effects of Experience Extinction?

Connecting with nature is essential for our well being

Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash

One positive consequence of COVID-19 is it got people out in nature. When soft plays, cafes, shops, gyms, and pubs were forced to close, the masses turned to parks, beaches, and woodlands.

At the height of COVID-19, a friend joined me for a socially distanced walk in our local woods. She brought her toddler along. He was mesmerised by all the different sights, smells, and sounds. And despite the woods being a small hop, skip, and a jump away from his home, he had never played here. Instead, my friend spent her days in soft play areas.

I understand this; she herself was not encouraged into the outdoors as a child. And these sorts of habits are repeated throughout the generations.

I have wonderful memories of playing in the woods beside my childhood home. We could make as much noise as we wanted without disturbing anyone. We searched streams for tadpoles and followed the trails of weird and wonderful insects, which we later identified from a book. Sure, we got wet and muddy and often covered in grass stains, but that’s all part of living.

Biodiversity needs our help

The world is experiencing a biodiversity crisis. Species are dying off at an alarming rate. But with the decrease in interaction with nature, in favour of synthetic entertainment, a large proportion of human kind are just not interested.

An intriguing term, “extinction of experience,” refers to the reduction of people’s experiences of nature. As humans become further separated from nature, how they benefit from it, interact with it, learn about it, and emotionally connect with it becomes severely altered. And despite the widespread recognition that getting out in nature is good for our health, many people choose concrete over grass and screens over vistas.

But perhaps the most worrying long-term concern is that the greater divide between humans and nature, the lower the interest and inclination is to protect the natural world.

People are looking away from the forests and reefs, too interested in Netflix and social media to engage meaningfully with the gift of nature.

We are taking nature for granted.

The beauty of being off-grid

I recognise my privilege to be able to talk about camping trips and mountain hikes. I have tales of swimming with wild dolphins and watching seals while bobbing up and down on the waves in my kayak.

Nature engages all of our senses. Unlike social media, when we show up in nature, we don’t experience feelings of inadequacy or jealousy or compare ourselves to others. Nature has a calming way of bringing us into the present and ever so slowly introducing us to different aspects of our environment.

A few months ago, with a head of overwhelm and a heart of fear, I left my mobile phone at home and took myself to the beach. I sat on the rocks listening to the metronomic lullaby of the waves - a meditative state where time does not change, nor is time relevant, and the only indication of it passing is by the sun's lowering.

Experience extinction will suffocate your human experience

Experiencing nature doesn’t need to be an extreme hiking trip in Patagonia. It can be as simple as growing flowers in a window box, volunteering at a community garden or animal rescue center, or learning about the trees in your vicinity. There are myriad ways to connect with nature, and the benefits of this interaction will leave you physically and mentally better off!

Nature is scientifically proven to:

• Improve mood

• Alleviate depression and anxiety

• Lower stress levels

• Reduce feelings of anger

• Boost confidence and self-esteem

• Alleviate loneliness

Maybe you could pack a picnic and meet friends in a park instead of flocking to a restaurant for lunch? Instead of wandering around the shops on a Saturday, you could create a fairy village on a nearby trail to encourage local children to connect with nature.

I encourage you to involve all your senses. Take off your shoes and feel the earth beneath your feet. Be aware of the different bird songs around you and notice the range of smells elicited by nature. Personally, I don’t think you can beat the smell of a horse’s muzzle, but I’m sure you have your own preference.

Lift your head out of your phone and escape the city

The world is a magical place. Nature’s playground is better than anything we could make. I urge you to step away from the bright lights and non-stop action and ease yourself into nature in whatever way you feel most drawn to. Don’t be part of the experience extinction, go out and explore everything this world has to offer you.

How does nature make you feel? I’d love to hear your input in the comments.

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You can also find my writings and musings on Medium, where I write about kindness, psychology, social injustice, the nuances of living childfree, friendship, social justice, feminism, personal growth, and much more.

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