The benefits of nature for well-being
For most of us, spending time in nature can make us feel refreshed, relaxed, and calmer. In the hustle and bustle of modern urban life, spending time in nature is harder to come by, but even more crucial. Research has shown that connecting with nature is of critical importance to our mental health and well-being. Tackling our mental health crisis is crucially important. According to the NHS one in four adults and one in 10 children experience mental illness.
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What does connecting to nature mean?
Nature can mean different things to everyone — it can mean green spaces like parks or forests, rivers, beaches and blue spaces. It can also mean urban green spaces like trees, and indoor houseplants. Even watching nature documentaries can have a calming effect and can help to improve your mental health.
If you have a garden or balcony, growing flowers or plants can help to connect to nature. Getting a bird feeder can attract birds and wildlife to your garden to further connect you to nature. Connecting creativity with nature can help to reduce stress. Drawing, painting, or taking photos can help you notice the beauty of nature and express your creativity.
If you are able to, exercising in nature like going for a walk or a run can massively improve your mental health. Leaving your headphones at home can also make it easier to connect to the sounds and green spaces around you. The endorphins from exercising coupled with the benefits from nature can be a powerful combination.
For some people, who are anxious about climate, spending time doing activities or campaigns to protect the environment. Voluntary activities can also help your mental health, and feeling like you’re doing your part to help protect nature can lead to more positive feelings.
What are the benefits?
Spending time in nature can significantly improve our mental health. Connecting with nature is associated with lower levels of poor mental health, and a reduction of depression and anxiety. Nature can help improve your mood, reduce feelings of stress and anger, and help you feel more relaxed. It can help improve your confidence and self-esteem, as well as being more active and helping you to meet new people. Because of this is can reduce loneliness, which can massively improve mental health.
The Mental Health Foundation found that 44% of people said being closer to nature helped them feel less anxious and worried.
Research into ecotherapy, a type of formal treatment that involves activities outside in nature, has been shown to treat mild to moderate depression. Being outside in natural light can also help to treat seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that affects people during darker times of the year.
Research has shown that spending time in nature can also improve focus and concentration, as well as boosting creativity and enhancing memory. A University of Michigan study found that short-term memory spans increased by 20% after just an hour interacting with nature. Another study found that when looking out at a green roof for 40 seconds, subjects made fewer mistakes on a test, than when they looked at a concrete one.
Why is this the case?
Exposure to nature can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the branch of the nervous system relating to the feeling of resting. This means that being in nature instils feelings of calm and wellbeing, helping our mental health.
Studies have also shown that looking at green and blue environments can lead to an improved mood, more positive emotions, and a decrease in stress.
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