Abstract: In our fast-paced society focused on productivity, the usual priority is to produce more, have more, make more – and translating it at all possible into dollars and cents. To the detriment that such ‘more producing, having, making’ is causing to our overall wellbeing. Typically, even in certain suburban settings, the city dwelling style and environments prevail, whether physically overtaking natural grounds, or in our own minds as everything we do is drive to and from work, disallowing ourselves any kind of connection with nature. Losing the connection to nature is making us lose our health.
By Rafael Perez

Rafael Perez, CEO & Founder of Do It Better Wellness: An Engineer by trade, Rafael also holds a Master’s Degree in Human Relations and Communications and is a Certified Life Coach, who enjoys inspiring people to find happiness, enriching positivity and resilience building. Rafael utilizes innovative methods and coaching-based techniques, which contribute to effective personal and professional growth; fostering a cohesive culture in the workplace and at home.
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Looking ahead at our new year 2020, asking ourselves regarding trends for health and wellbeing in the immediate future, I decided to take an anthropological point of view: looking at the past to learn how to do better in the future. But, how far back do we look, a year or two or … a few million? Both.

Recently, I had the pleasure of facilitating several conference sessions at a large convention. I truly enjoyed helping hundreds of people developing interpersonal relationships, work together better, manage their stress and be more purposefully productive. Key words, right? ‘Purposefully Productive’.

Upon conversations over breakfasts, receptions and very short breaks, I heard that most people had not left the convention’s hotel during the course of 5 very intense days. Forget hitting the well-equipped 24-h open gym or stretching or do any kind of mindful walk around the parking lot even. The hotel was in the middle of a setting with the name ‘Forrestal’, doesn’t it tell you something about its actual location and the possibilities that come to your mind as to where to go out to enjoy some fresh air?

Nope, hundreds of people stayed in breathing recycled-air for 5 days … Consequently, some got actually, physically, sick, after the well-accomplished, productive, amazing conference. Read again, how can the words ‘amazing’ and ‘sick’ be in the same sentence? And that is what is happening nowadays: we are losing our connection to nature, therefore, losing health. Studies show that we are spending less time in nature, causing a negative effect in our overall health, especially our face-glued-to-screen populations.

Nature not only heals, soothes and restores, but connects! Our genetic makeup tells us that being somewhat surrounded by nature (viewing scenes of nature helps too) reduces our anxiety, making us feel emotionally clearer and increases our desire to communicate with others more openly. It enhances our creativity and brain functions. It also contributes to our physical wellbeing, because it reduces blood pressure and muscle tension, as well as our production of stress hormones. Nature has a positive effect in both, our bodies and minds. Researchers found that more than two-thirds of people choose a natural setting to retreat to when stressed. We should not compromise it for technology or social media.  
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Now, what can we do to produce more health, have more health, ‘make’ more health? In our field of wellness our aim is to help people take action on their health and wellbeing in many different aspects, and the trends for 2020 Wellness and beyond will definitely start with a stronger connection with nature. That education will take the form of, first, understanding  the real positive effects of nature in our overall wellbeing; secondly with actual programming that will develop that connection and finally executing in our daily basis actions that will prove such health improvement. 

What a phenomenal day at HHSD, filling that gymnasium with tons of wellness activities. Lines of people wanted to participate in our innovative techniques to learn how to stay healthy and happy. Thank you for such an amazing day!

We are delighted to be the new Intercultural Family Services wellness partner, providing excellence in quality wellbeing services to their employees. They give their best to their clients and they definitely will apply the received innovative education on their health, as well as applying it with their clients.

Thank you, IFS, for your great feedback!

Hello Rafael.
 
Please extend our warm gratitude to your whole team today that provided Wellness services to the staff at our agency.
I have heard nothing but really great comments about the massage with Peter and Marguerite. The staff enjoyed the stretching, mindful meditation, and aromatherapy with Haylee and definitely the self defense intro with Ben!
Honestly I cannot tell you how much it means to us and the Wellness Committee for seeing this come to fruition!
Also thank you for making an appearance today too!  That's always a nice touch.
Renee Jenkins
Human Resources Coordinator

Our long life client Philadelphia Country Club keeps enjoying our sessions and learning more and more about how to stay healthy physically, mentally and emotionally. With Chair Massage and an on going Chair Yoga Series, we are all learning new ways to incorporate wellbeing in our daily routines with minimal effort and great rewards.