The sight of the sea is the quickest and most effective way to reduce high stress levels while for many people a walk in the park could be as refreshing, a survey has found. A poll of 2,000 adults by Hoegaarden found daily stress is a problem for 30 percent of the population, BBC health website said.
However, 84 percent said being in contact with the natural elements made them feel more relaxed instantly. Other popular stress relievers include a walk in the park, the smell of cut grass and the sound of birds singing.
The most often cited causes of stress include the morning commute (13percent), work itself (32 percent) and simply getting up (14 percent).
Just 19 percent of those who live or work in rural area say they feel stressed on a daily basis. On average city dwellers can expect to spend 73 days without more than five minutes of silence at a tide, whilst those who live in rural areas go only 14-21 days.
Christine Webber, who worked on the report, said the fact that people in urban areas seldom interacted with the natural environment had led to rising stress levels. She said that with little time off people were missing out on both the physical benefits and psychological benefits of the great outdoors.
Dr George Fieldman, a cognitive therapist and evolutionary psychologist based in High Wycombe, said it was possible that communing with nature helped to relieve stress.
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