The sounds of relaxation

In a fast-paced world, where stress and mental fatigue seem commonplace, we're constantly looking for new ways to unwind. Some people take a hot bath, watch a film, go for a run, or listen to slower tempo music to help them relax. But what about the chirrups and whistles of birdsong or other nature sounds? Could they also help people to let go of the tensions of modern life?

在快节奏的世界中，压力和精神疲劳似乎司空见惯，我们一直在寻找新的放松方式。 有些人洗热水澡、看电影、跑步或听慢节奏的音乐来帮助他们放松。 但是鸟鸣声或其他自然声音的唧唧声和口哨声呢？ 它们还能帮助人们摆脱现代生活的压力吗？

According to a study by King's College London in 2022, seeing or hearing birds could help to boost the mental wellbeing of people. Taking a trip to a place rich in birdlife like parks, forests and canals and encountering birds chirping and warbling to each other in the trees could even help to treat some mental health conditions. And it's not just birds that could have a therapeutic effect on our moods. Another study commissioned by the National Trust compared the effects of woodland sounds with voiced meditation apps. The study found listening to birdsong as well as other woodland sounds like leaves crunching underfoot or the gentle trickle of a stream boosted feelings of relaxation 30% more than an app. Other sounds which may help to chill people out are waves lapping on the shore, gentle breezes, and light rainfall.

根据伦敦国王学院 2022 年的一项研究，看到或听到鸟类可以帮助提高人们的心理健康。 去公园、森林和运河等鸟类丰富的地方旅行，遇到鸟儿在树上互相鸣叫甚至可以帮助治疗一些心理健康问题。 不仅仅是鸟类可以对我们的情绪产生治疗作用。 国民托管组织委托进行的另一项研究比较了林地声音与有声冥想应用程序的效果。 研究发现，聆听鸟鸣和其他林地声音（例如树叶在脚下嘎吱嘎吱作响或溪流缓缓流淌）比应用程序更能提升 30% 的放松感。 其他可能有助于让人们冷静下来的声音是拍打海岸的海浪、微风和小雨。

However, not all of us live in rural surroundings, and depending on where we live, a trip to the countryside to see birds may not be an option. But could the nature sounds that originate there still help you? According to research by California Polytechnic State University, even a recording of the sounds of birds had a profound effect on people's mood, while other studies saw people listening to soundscapes of the coast and forests with similar outcomes to their wellbeing.

然而，并非我们所有人都生活在乡村环境中，根据我们居住的地方，去乡村看鸟可能不是一种选择。 但是，发源于那里的自然声音还能对您有所帮助吗？ 根据加州理工州立大学的研究，即使是鸟叫声的录音也会对人们的情绪产生深远的影响，而其他研究则发现人们聆听海岸和森林的音景对他们的幸福感有类似的影响。

So, wherever you live, you can access the wonderful sounds of birds and nature, be it during a stroll through a wood or via some headphones. And maybe listening to the chirps, trills, warbles and whistles of some birds could help you to relax after a long, hard day.

因此，无论您住在哪里，无论是在树林中漫步还是通过耳机，您都可以听到鸟儿和大自然的美妙声音。 也许聆听一些鸟儿的唧唧声、颤音、鸣叫声和口哨声可以帮助您在漫长而辛苦的一天之后放松身心。

词汇表

unwind 放松
tempo （音乐的）速度，节奏
chirrup （鸟）唧唧叫
whistle （鸟）鸣叫
birdsong 鸟鸣声
wellbeing 健康
birdlife 鸟类
chirp （鸟）啁啾，唧唧叫
warble （鸟）啭鸣
therapeutic 使人放松的，有疗效的
woodland 树林，林地
crunch 发出嘎吱嘎吱的声音
trickle 涓涓细流
chill out 使（人）放松
wave lapping 波浪拍打
shore （海、湖、河）岸
breeze 微风
rainfall 下雨
rural 乡村的
soundscape 声景
trill （鸟）啼啭