Nature Reset Thanks to the Power of Entropy

The world as we know it is in a constant state of increasing disorder.  The natural disorder of a system can be defined scientifically as entropy.  Energy is put into organizing a room and then it happens again, disorder.  Legos are sorted and like magic, they are all mixed up together again.  Who doesn't experience entropy?  Ruff Ruff in the picture here is a product of just letting entropy happen.

Gardens are kept pristine, vibrant lawns, sharp edges, colorful flowers and then give it a month or a year without work.  Again disorder.  Entropy at its finest.  Civilization as a whole is designed to keep entropy at bay.  Leaves are kept off the ground, dirt is raked to give a nice texture and weeds are removed.  This all looks good and keeps one content to know a days work has been done, but is it enough to reset the mind?  Well, with the body exhausted the mind will rest at the point, but is there a faster way to reset the mind and thus to reset ones mood.

Phrases like, "I just need to re-center myself" and "I am out of my element" are common phrases we hear today.  Research findings in the news is saying that time in nature is enough to alter your mood and avoid a whole bunch of medical costs down the road.  So what is it about being out in nature for short doses that one is able to reset the mind without going to all the trouble of exhausting the body first?

How does nature nurture so well!

Bridle State Park Trail compliments of Stephanie Locke, Girl Scout Leader

How does it do it?  My personal studies on this subject include comparing 30 minutes of walking through a groomed neighborhood followed by walking through Bridle Trails Nature Park.  It wasn't until 10 minutes of being in the nature park that overall well being feeling happened again like so many other similar short doses of time out there.  So I looked around to see what was so different from a neighborhood walk.  There was plants in both, bird sounds in both, fresh air in both, not too many loud noises that day, so what was it?

It was the increased entropy of the forest.  Other than the trail, disorder was all over the place!  Trees had fallen and laid rotten right where they lay.  Random plants were growing every which way.  Trees were looming here and there and sometimes in between other trees.  There was a reuniting with the natural course of the world - a reuniting with entropy.  Instead of a focused gaze to see all the divisions in society, a soft gaze results since there is repetition in this forest disorder and randomness.  The soft gaze then leads to a meditative state.  A meditative state for ones mind leads to relaxation.

Short boosts seem to be the trick.  Just a short 30 minute trail in between a daily transition and ones pace has slowed down, hormone levels have shifted (decreasing that cortisol level again - see previous article) and PMA (positive mental attitude) is back!