Nature is an important need for many and is vital in keeping us emotionally, psychologically, and physically healthy. There has been extensive research completed on the healing aspects of being in nature. Year after year, research continues to consistently find that even a few moments in the outdoors can have significant impacts on our mental health, leading to healthier, happier, fuller, and more productive lives.
Nature has a very wide definition. It can mean green spaces like parks, woodlands, or forests. It can also mean blue spaces like rivers, wetlands, beaches, or canals. It can also mean the trees on our urban streets, our private gardens, and even our indoor plants and window boxes. For those who find it a struggle to “get out in nature” due to challenges or barriers they may be facing with a medical or mental health condition, it's imperative that we create space for nature in our indoor environment. By allowing the sun to shine in the windows, fresh air to flow through our homes, and perhaps a having plant or two that does not require much attention, we can reap the benefits that nature has to offer.
Being in nature has also been shown to boost cognitive functioning by rejuvenating and restoring the mind. In addition to being scenic and beautiful, the sight of a bubbling stream, a serene meadow, or remote mountains, even a documentary on nature, can also reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mood and self-esteem. Numerous studies have shown that a reduction in stress and anxiety leads to improved productivity, self-discipline and increased engagement. Simply put, green, natural environments can stimulate curiosity and engagement.
In order to take care of something, someone, or even oneself, one must feel a connection. Harvard Men’s Health Watch of Harvard Health Publishing found that being in, and connecting with, the outdoors has been found to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, while also creating more moments of contentment, awe, and even joy.
We are very fortunate to live in a state that has so much to offer. Challenge yourself to engage with nature each day in a way that is meaningful for you. It can be as simple as sitting outside, opening a window, taking a nap in a hammock, going for a walk in a park or around the neighborhood, going camping, taking a hike in the foothills, or planning a grand adventure. Nature is all around us, we simply must hit pause in the rush of everyday life to appreciate the benefits of it.
Jenny Lee Doty, MSW, LCSW, has been practicing as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2010. She has worked in the mental health field for more than 20 years in a variety of treatment settings, including schools, day treatment centers, hospitals, and local community agencies. She is a member of the Saint Alphonsus Employee Assistance Program.