Aging Backwards Tuesday Tips #35: Commune With Nature

It has been proven that chronic stress can cause premature aging. Elissa Epel, Ph.D., and her colleagues from the University of California, San Francisco's psychiatry department, found that while hormonal changes are a normal part of aging, chronic stress can affect hormone levels and alter the body's delicate hormonal balance. You're probably familiar with the stress relieving techniques such as yoga and deep breathing, but why not try something different?

Bird watching may not be the first thing you think of -- but it can be an excellent way to relieve stress. Not only does spotting the myriad varieties of birds let you enjoy the calming effects of communing with nature, but the birds' songs, chirps, warbles, tweets and twitters can relax you as well.

Aging Backwards Bird Watching Tips:

1) Go where the birds are. Not sure where to start looking for birds? Try the Top 250 North American Birding Hot Spots Web site by Peter W. Thayer.

2) Get some binoculars. Look for binoculars with "image stabilization" to keep them from shaking because, chances are, you'll be looking at the birds from a distance. While you're at it, you may want to get a digital recorder that you can attach to your binoculars such as RememBird. Weighing less than two ounces and using a single AAA battery, it allows you to whisper into it without ever taking your eye off the bird.

3) Familiarize yourself. These days, you don't even need to buy a bird book to learn about the various species of birds. AvianWeb.com has a comprehensive index from A to Z that not only features photos of the birds for easy identification, but also gives encyclopedic explanations about each type.

4) Join a group. Meetup.com is a great way to connect with others who have similar interests.

5) Keep a journal. Bring a small notebook with you to keep a record of the various birds you spot and also to write descriptions of birds you don't recognize so you can look them up later.

There are millions of birds out there just waiting to be spotted and heard. To help support wild birds and their habitats, visit Audubon.org, where you can find a fascinating timeline of the history of the Audubon Society. Audubon's mission is "to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity."