This is Your Mind on Nature: How the Outdoors can Improve Your Mental Health
The connection between our minds and the natural world around us can not be denied. There are plenty of studies that support this idea, including a recent article from Harvard Medical School linking decreased negative thought loops and mental fog to more time outside. However, it doesn’t take a researcher or a scientist to uncover the truth behind nature’s impact on our mental wellbeing. Just think about a time you were anxious, overwhelmed, or distressed about something and took a walk in the woods, or went for a run, or sat by a body of water to help cope with what you were experiencing. How did spending time in nature impact your emotions and your thoughts?
For me personally, spending time outside is nostalgic, bringing me back to the feelings of playing outside as a child, which are memories that bring me joy.
Knowing the impact that nature has had on my own life, and seeing the breakthroughs my clients have experienced, who have made time in nature more of a priority, I am a big believer in its many benefits to our mental health.
THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
Spending time outdoors is important for the health of our bodies and minds, but during a global pandemic, its effects might be more important than ever. Due to COVID-19, our world has changed dramatically. Many of us are working or learning from home, and most public spaces have been closed until further notice, leaving people feeling trapped and stuck within the four walls of their own homes.
When you feel trapped it is easy to lose your sense of purpose, which can lead to negative thoughts and emotions. And that is only the beginning of the effects that have come along with this pandemic. People are experiencing restlessness due to lack of physical activity, anxiety from trying to transition to online learning or working from home, loneliness from being isolated from friends and family, and even vivid dreams due to lack of stimulation.
Being trapped indoors can also lead to other ramifications including more time spent scrolling through social media or financial stress from too much online shopping.
BENEFITS OF BEING OUTDOORS
Nature can bring balance to all these areas by forcing you into the present moment, taking your mind off of daily stresses, and refocusing on the natural world around you. Here are just a few of the benefits of spending time outside:
FRESH AIR
Sometimes you just need to get outside and breathe some fresh air, especially during a global pandemic. When you start to sense yourself getting anxious or overwhelmed from too much time inside, step outside (even for a few minutes) and take some deep breaths.
A CLEAR MIND
Spending time in nature can also provide a change in scenery that can help provide clarity, simply by activating your senses. The sounds of the leaves, the colors in the sky, and the smell of crisp air can all help you clear your mind and refocus.
THE ABILITY TO UNPLUG
Our minds are not designed to process the endless amount of information that comes at us every day through technology. Nature offers the ability to unplug from the demands and stresses of the day such as social media, responding to work emails, and constant news streams.
VITAMIN D
Many studies and tests have shown that getting the appropriate amount of vitamin D from the sun can help support brain development and decrease symptoms of depression.
IMPROVED PHYSICAL HEALTH
Being outdoors often involves some sort of physical activity such as hiking, running, swimming, or even just taking a walk outside. All of which can improve your physical health along with your mental health.
CONNECTION WITH OTHERS
The outdoors offers a safer way to connect with people that we might not get a chance to otherwise, due to quarantine. Socially-distanced walks or meetups in the park allow us to get the human interaction we so desperately need, without putting others at risk.
DISCOVERING NEW INTERESTS
One positive thing that can come from the feeling of being stuck is discovering new hobbies and interests. Things like camping, biking, hiking, and other outdoor-based activities, can create positive changes in your physical and mental health.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE IN NATURE TO BENEFIT FROM IT
There is no substitute for spending time outside in the fresh air, but living in Michigan, the weather is unpredictable and the winters are brutal, so sometimes going outside isn’t an option.
Luckily, there are other ways to get some of the benefits of being outdoors, without actually going outside. Listening to a playlist of nature sounds, sitting by a window with natural light, or investing in a happy light are all ways you can bring the benefits of nature inside.
Caring for houseplants is another way to benefit from nature indoors. A 2019 study by Hillside Atlanta suggests that interacting with houseplants can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety and increase mood through a practice called Horticulture Therapy. However, houseplants aren’t for all. If you are someone that will feel defeated if you kill a houseplant, you might want to explore other routes of interacting with nature.
DON’T LET THE WINTER BLUES GET YOU DOWN
There is no limit to the benefits of nature on our mental wellness. People who have recommitted to spending more time outdoors have reported a renewed sense of curiosity, creativity, and clarity. There is just something about being in nature that allows us to reset and helps us see things from a new perspective.
With winter right around the corner, you might have to layer up or get creative when it comes to spending time outside. But making a plan now for how you will embrace the outdoors in the coming months could have a huge impact on your mental health this season.
To learn more about Brave Grand Rapids, or to speak with one of our licensed therapists, click the link below.
