Opinion | How birding can help relieve stress and anxiety
Summary
Birding offers a calming escape from stress and anxiety, with bird songs and time outdoors linked to better mental and cognitive health. The writer describes finding owls in the field and argues that more people could benefit from spending time watching birds in nature.
Key Points
- Birding helps the writer disconnect from work stress and writer’s block by shifting attention to nature.
- The article says bird songs and outdoor birdwatching can reduce anxiety, irrational thoughts and stress.
- The writer recounts spotting a Long-eared owl and Northern saw-whet owl during a winter outing in Fargo.
- Post-Covid growth in birding has coincided with rising stress and anxiety, making birdwatching a useful coping activity.
