Nature and Its Impact on Your Mental Wellbeing

Nature is undoubtedly the best healer. Spending time in nature awakens our senses and provides clarity. Being submerged in nature, with the space and variety of trees, plants, and animals, can significantly reduce anger, fear, stress, anxiety, depression and increase joyful feelings. 

Research has shown that environments can either increase or reduce our stress levels. What you are seeing, hearing, and experiencing at any moment will change not only your mood, but how your nervous, endocrine and immune systems are functioning. An uncomfortable and unpleasant environment can cause us to feel anxious or helpless, which can elevate blood pressure, cause muscle tension, and suppress your immune system. An environment that relaxes you and leaves you feeling calm will reverse that. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing. 

Just a walk in the woods or a stroll by the beach on a sunny morning can awaken the innermost feelings of happiness and peace, and Environmental Psychology has gone a long way proving this fact (Bell, Greene, Fisher, & Baum, 1996).

“A walk in nature walks the soul back home” Mary Davis

A strong human-nature relationship means more balanced, focused, solution-oriented thinking, and more resilience. Nature is known to be very soothing and can even help us cope with pain. In a study of patients who underwent gallbladder surgery, half were given a view of trees and half were given a view of a wall. According to the physician who conducted the study, Robert Ulrich, the patients with the views of trees were able to tolerate pain better and appeared to have fewer negative effects. 

Scientists are finding evidence that being in nature has a profound impact on our brains and our behavior, increasing our attention span, creativity, and our ability to connect with other people. 

For me personally, the mountains are a place of healing and solitude, strengthening my connection to earth, my mind, and my body. It’s where I go when I just need to rejuvenate, escape, and collect my thoughts to get clarity. 

What are you doing to help change your environment? Think about how you can bring nature into your daily life with some small, simple changes, such as having a plant room, nurturing a garden, or choosing a home with a park close by. Try to have a daily walk outside or plan trips outdoors, whether it’s to walk, run, cycle, sit, or explore.