For a lot of people, this is the most important time of the year since they are finally able to relieve all the stress caused by daily routines and spend some time on themselves. Regarding the destinations chosen by each person for their touristic destinations, there are plenty of different options that people evaluate when they have some free time for themselves and their family.
 
While some people prefer spending it on the beach, partying on the coast or practising some extreme sports, there are some people who prefer relaxation, so they look for a quieter and calm place where they can enjoy pure air and having some contact with nature, for those people who look for a fresher environment to spend their vacations, the countryside has shown to be an excellent option.
 
When we think of relaxation and tranquillity, most of us imagine a humid and leafy forest, the smell of the leaves after the rain, looking at the sunset from the top of a mountain, putting our feet in the sand where the only thing we hear is the sea breeze. The truth is that being in a quiet environment is already a synonym of feeling good. It seems like magic, we just need a little good oxygen to enter our lungs, silence and we will be ready to enjoy this peaceful environment. These natural environments are ideal to “recharge your batteries”. It does not always have to be a place where there are trees, but the beach is a perfect destination to rest (not in high season, of course).
 
Leaving the routine and the city allows us to think more clearly, analyse what we want from our lives, have free time to spend with our family or partner, etc. And the good thing is that it is not necessary to spend months interned in the middle of the mountain to be able to take advantage of its benefits. With just one day, to begin with, enough.
 
Why is sometimes a vacation to the countryside the best decision for some people? Well, it has been proved that living in a big city increases the risk of suffering from anxiety, depression, diabetes (possible precursors of cognitive deterioration) and even schizophrenia. On the contrary, the countryside and open spaces where people can walk freely and enjoy nature have shown to be very beneficial since it improves the state of mind and decreases the risk of suffering mental disorders.
 
Investigations certify benefits from spending vacations on the countryside
According to the theory of the biologist Edwar O. Wilson, humans need contact with nature to feel healthy and happy. The greener the environment we inhabit, the less frequent are cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, something related to contamination, and the possibility of suffering from diabetes, depression or anxiety disorders is also lower.
 
Living away from nature accelerates aging, according to a study published in 2009 by sociologist Jolanda Maas, of the EMGO Institute of Health and Health Care in Amsterdam. Her studies have led her to ensure that green spaces act as a buffer against the negative repercussions of stress on health.
 
Other studies carried out by professionals on the field dedicate to research the benefits of being in contact with nature. Apparently, a walk in the countryside helps us refresh the voluntary attention, also allows the brain to recover from the sounds and lights of the city, which is relaxed by the action of natural light, the sound of birds or the whisper created by leaves swaying in the wind. Studies indicate that those who live in a big city are 40% more likely to suffer from a mood disorder, the factor that contributes most to the development of a mental pathology is social stress.
 
Regarding neuropsychology, the amygdala is involved in emotional regulation and mood and it triggers reactions of alert in the body to potential or real situations of danger. Apparently, the larger the city from which a person comes, the more hyperactive his amygdala shows in stressful situations. However, it does not change when the area of origin is a rural area. This is a fact to be taken into account, since the activation of this area of the brain is also related to depression and anxiety disorders. Since in the urban environment the risk of suffering from anxiety and depression is higher, the hyperactivity of the amygdala can be the mediator between the urban lifestyle and the risk of suffering from these mental illnesses.
 
What is recommended when going on vacations?
In case you want to enjoy a bit of the benefits provided by the countryside when you are not on vacations yet, you can easily go and take walks in a park. It is an excellent idea to prepare 20-minute routines and maybe combinate it with physical activities in order to keep your body in shape at the time you enjoy some fresh air.
 
When going on vacation to the country side it is quite recommendable to spend some time just laying on the grass observing nature and taking sun bathes (with sunscreen), this has shown to be an excellent way to provide the body with the vitamin D it needs. On the other hand, if you have a relative who suffers mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s in a mild phase but is able to move well, use nature as a therapeutic resource.
 
Also, it is an excellent way to help children interact with their pets and have some fun running around in a very healthy way. You can play some frisbee altogether as an excellent way to have some laughs with your children. To sum up, it is not only a calm destination but also a place where you can have some fun.
If you want to ensure your experience is going to be unforgettable and a pleasant time then Amamoor Homestead is the place where you will enjoy abundant wildlife, a beautiful sunset and that long-awaited contact with nature. Do not miss the chance to from rural relaxation in our comfortable village.