Human beings have lived surrounded by nature for most of their existence. Only recently in human history did we begin to build large, modern cities. People can become stressed from living so close together, which may mean compromised immune systems, shortened life spans, and increased stress.
Human beings don’t need to live in the wild to get the benefits of nature. Areas with generously-sized parks will still have enough greenery to help residents attain nature’s health benefits. This can even be true in small natural oases in populated cities; for example, New York City with its Central Park. You can improve quality of life by using available green space.
Many kinds of positive effects occur with regular visits to parks or woods. Cognition improves, depression lessens, and systolic blood pressure drops, as does overall stress drops. Mental focus improves to the point that even those with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) experience improvement in their condition. In general, most mental illnesses seem to respond positively to time spent in nature.
It would also appear that spending regular time in a natural setting encourages people to lead a healthier lifestyle. Part of this may come from decreased dependence on things like drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, after regular exposure to green space. That, in turn, helps restore the natural balance of the body.
How can you benefit routinely from nature, yet still live in a sizeable city? One could buy wooded land and build a house on the property. However, it would be much more reasonable to take advantage of wooded areas and undeveloped land around your own home. One such example is South Peak’s development of condominiums and single-family homes in the Roanoke Valley. There are forests, a large lake, trails for hiking, and many other kinds of encounters with nature. If you are not as adventurous, there are spectacular views of nature through the windows of the residences.
Other natural treasures include the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Trail. There are a half-dozen sizeable parks in the area, and some of them allow camping which could extend your time with nature to an entire weekend.
There are many ways to be involved with all the natural benefits South Peak has to offer. You can purchase one of our condominiums or single-family homes as a getaway from your permanent residence. This would allow you flexibility to maintain your current lifestyle while having a place to “get away from it all.” However, if you are ready for a more drastic change, you can begin a new chapter in your life by moving to one of our beautiful residences full time.
If you would like more information, or advice on how to purchase a residence in South Peak, contact us and ask about our vision for the community. We’ll be glad to talk to you and help you with any questions about our properties and how living here can help improve your quality of life.