04 October 2022

Did you know that there are scientifically proven health benefits to connecting with the natural world? It’s so beneficial you could even call it nature therapy! You know how good it feels to get out and relax in nature, right? It’s time out from the stresses of everyday life, space and clean air, to breathe and take some time for yourself. Here’s how being in the great outdoors is great for you and your health and mental wellbeing.

Nature reduces stress and anxiety

Being out in nature has a measurable effect on your stress levels. They go right down, also lowering your risk of anxiety and depression. Even if you live and work in the central city surrounded by tall buildings, having a dose of the natural world can help lift your mood, your cognitive function, and your mental health. Whether it’s a walk in the park or even having a plant on your desk or being able to look out of the window, any connection with nature will help.

Connection with nature is healing

Studies have shown that even being able to see a natural landscape can help hospital patients recover faster. I have seen the effects myself of how a tv screen on the ceiling at the dental clinic can help eleviate stress and anxiety when sitting in the chair having dental work done. Seeing images of nature on the ceiling tv screen relaxes the mind and reduces the anxiety felt while in the dental chair.

Connecting to nature also helps your immune system function better. Scientists have found more than twenty pathways or connections between exposure to nature and improved health, protecting you from heart disease, depression, and diabetes.

Nature changes your perceptions of the world

Researchers studied and have found that walking through a rural area changed a participant’s attitude toward their to-do list. They saw their tasks as more manageable than participants who walked through city streets. 

People who exercise outdoors move faster, have a lowered perception of effort, enjoy their exercise more, and are more likely to stick to their routine than people exercising in a gym. 

Nature is great for your mental health

Remember how good it feels to be near the ocean, a river, or a waterfall? That’s because the air near moving water is full of negative ions that can act as natural anti-depressants. It’s the same effect as the change in the air after a thunderstorm when the air is no longer oppressive but clear and fresh. 

There are now many studies which show that people living in green areas, or who have access to green spaces in cities, have significantly better mental wellbeing than people who live cut off from nature. 

Even having an aquarium, houseplants, or a view onto green space can help create a positive space for a person’s mental wellbeing.