‘I took a digital detox to help me heal from surgery – and I was amazed at how much it helped’
Living in a hectic and ever-developing part of east London, screeching sirens and building site clangs are a constant feature of my living room soundtrack. The ambient sounds of city life don't usually bother me, being something I've adapted to in the half a decade I've spent in the capital.
Sitting on my sofa feeling depleted and sore two days after undergoing a laparoscopy – a type of keyhole surgery – this summer, though, the din was infuriating. I had a pulsing headache from a weird sleep schedule, plus a lack of movement and a heavy painkiller regime.
Besides, I knew my surgery had been unsuccessful. Doctors had operated in an attempt to find and diagnose endometriosis, a condition in which cells like those lining the uterus grow in other parts of the body, causing debilitating menstrual pain – but didn’t find any tissue. It means that I'm back to square one, when it comes to figuring out the root cause of my agonising periods.
Whatever the reason, the sound was giving me an sharp urge to leave the city. I wanted to seek refuge in silence, away from diggers and police cars. And, perhaps subconsciously, away from the busy life I had made here – a dash from the inbox I had thought I’d be returning to almost immediately post-op.
I’m certainly not the first one to feel a pull to nature during times of physical and mental stress. As is now well-documented in many of your favourite memes doing the rounds on Instagram, Victorian doctors would tell people who were unwell to visit the seaside. Fast forward 200 years to lockdown and we all suddenly felt a pull to the outside: visits to and time spent in parks in Cornwall increased by 280% between January and September 2020.
I am "must retire to the seaside to take the waters and air" level of sick and burn-out... I am officially a victorian woman with consumption.
— Kayla ✨ (@kaylajohnsonatl) February 6, 2024
The scientific term for this is ‘the biophilia hypothesis’, says Dr Suzanne Hackenmiller, chief medical advisor at adventure tool app AllTrails. ‘Studies suggest that humans have an innate connection to nature and are genetically predisposed to be attracted to it. Immersing yourself in nature is intrinsic to being human,’ she explains.
‘This phenomenon is likely due to the body's natural inclination towards environments that promote relaxation and restoration, which activate the parasympathetic nervous system to maintain homeostasis and avoid being overwhelmed by external stimuli. Additionally, the mind can recognise the need for a break from overstimulation and seek out the calming effects of natural settings.’
Checking in
Deciding that green space was what I needed, I signed up for a three night stay at an Unplugged cabin – a series of wifi and tech-free abodes located in stunning natural environments. Mine was in lush countryside an hour outside of London, plonked in the corner of a field, surrounded only by more acres of grass and wheat.
The cabins are designed to facilitate a full digital detox, as well as time in the outdoors. There are no laptop charging points and you’re encouraged to lock your do-it-all phone away in a box, replacing it with individual analogue items like a Polaroid camera, Nokia phone, FM radio and paper map.
I felt almost instant relief the second my boyfriend and I unlocked the cabin. The compact rooms pack in an eco-friendly toilet, shower, table, kitchen, bed and storage into a fairly small space, but I already felt freer than I did in my more spacious city apartment.
‘Unlike urban environments, which can be overstimulating, natural settings engage all our senses gently and harmoniously. Away from the distractions of everyday life and noise, you can cultivate a sense of awareness and connection with the environment, promoting mental clarity and reducing rumination or intrusive thoughts,’ says Dr Hackenmiller.
‘Dating back to the early eighties, Tokyo doctors hypothesised that city stress impacted mental health. They took patients to nearby forests for nature therapy and consistently found improvements in depression, anxiety, and self-esteem.’
These benefits can be felt within five minutes, she tells me – and I believe her. It’s a cliche to say it feels like a weight has been lifted but, after a beautiful walk to a nearby farm shop to buy dinner and sitting at a table, book and glass of wine in hand, I feel my shoulders lower away from my ears.
Can nature help you heal?
Over the next two days, our schedule looked like this: rise whenever we felt like it (which, thanks to my natural body clock, was always before 7am). Open the blinds to reveal the glass walls that surround the beds and take in the rolling views. Read, glancing up from our books only to take in the greenery, then head out to the fields and roll out yoga mats for a series of sun salutations – and, for me, post-operation rehab on my core.
After stretching, eating and coffee, we walked, using a paper map as our guide. We only took our devices out to compare the route to one AllTrails when we second-guessed our orientation skills, or to take a video or photograph of slips of sun coming through trees or our relaxed, smiling faces.
We built a habit of stopping for moments of awe, stopping to focus on the beauty or silence that surrounded us. It’s not the usual way I move through life: I tend to walk as though I’m in a race with CityMapper, proving I can reach my destination way before it thinks I can, barely taking in my surroundings.
But awe is a mental health habit associated with reduced activation of the sympathetic nervous state (the flight-or-flight mode so many of us live in), as well as improvements in optimism and openness. It's also get physical benefits, such as reduced inflammation and, the second I stop to think about how lucky I am, how wonderful everything around me is, I start to feel tingly, like my rigid body is melting.
It's not the only somatic benefit I’m reaping, says Dr Hackenmiller: ‘Nature exposure has been associated with lower blood pressure and faster recovery. Additionally, inhaling the immune-boosting chemicals emitted by trees and plants helps increase the number and activity of our natural killer cells, aiding in fighting viruses and other deadly diseases, and, ultimately, supporting the immune system.’
It’s why green prescriptions are now given by GPs – offering patients time in nature – for conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and depression.
We walk to local cafes and pubs and, upon returning to the cabin, read books with no distractions until it’s dark, before setting up a Scrabble board.
The second evening, it strikes me that I've truly listened to my body on this trip. Often the messages come through muffled, as though they were sent through a cup and string phone, leaving me unable to figure out whether what would best help my feel my best physically – sleep, walks, exercise or fun.
When recovering from surgery, though, not being able to hear your own needs is a problem. There’s a thin line between supporting healing and overdoing it, and I haven't quite been able to locate where it falls. But here in nature, the difference is crisp: I know when my body is telling me it wants sun and movement or a snack and a seat. I wake up feeling actually rested, which can’t be said for the rest of my days post-op, the feeling remaining as we lock up the cabin and catch the train back to the city.
And the good news is that Dr Hackenmiller says I don’t need to be away immersed in nature for hours a day to reap the benefits. ‘Regular and consistent exposure to nature is key. Even short daily or weekly visits to natural settings can be beneficial. A common recommendation is at least two hours per week,' she says.
'Activities can be passive – sitting quietly, observing nature – or active, like walking, hiking or gardening). Mindful engagement, where one consciously appreciates the natural environment, can enhance benefits.
‘And both city parks and the countryside have benefits. Urban green spaces can offer substantial mental and physical health benefits, particularly for those who cannot easily access rural areas. However, larger and more biodiverse natural settings might provide greater restorative effects, such as decreasing rumination and dwelling on negative, stressful thoughts, possibly due to factors like reduced noise pollution and more immersive experiences.’
I'm so glad I learned for myself that nature is a great way to give your mind space to tune into your needs and your body a second to calm down and heal. And I'm happy to know that escaping to nature wasn't just me running away from your problems - it was me solving them.
Unplugged hosted Women's Health for this stay. More information at unplugged.rest
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