Sometimes in our complex world, I think we underestimate the simple, uncomplicated things that can contribute positively to mental health. Let’s talk about how nature can provide a calming respite from the stress of a busy life.
There are many academic studies reflecting how natural environments can be restorative to people. Nature can have a positive effect on our thoughts and feelings, two components of mental health. Experiencing nature, even on a small scale, can reduce anger/frustration, anxiety, and mental fatigue. Just this morning while on my way to work, I was worrying about a variety of things when I looked up and saw a rainbow. Rainbows always make me smile. They also remind me that no storm lasts forever.
Being in nature can help you make the cognitive shifts necessary to view things in a different way. I like the ocean. I am drawn to the immenseness of the sea. Whenever I stand on the beach, I realize that I am just one small person in a great big world. And my problems, while big to me, are really minute in the grand scheme of things. For me, there is comfort in this.
Interacting with nature has been shown to have health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, reducing cortisol levels, headaches, cardiovascular, respiratory disease, and long-term illness. As we are becoming increasingly aware, physical health and mental health are closely tied together. You don’t have to be a runner or even a walker to get a serotonin boost from being outdoors. Just sitting in the sun can increase the brain’s release of serotonin, boosting mood and increasing focus and feelings of calmness.
Appreciating beauty in the things that are not manmade, an awe-inspiring sunset, the majesty of mountains, aroma of flowers in a garden can do wonders for rejuvenating spirituality and belief in a higher power that the depths of depression and anxiety can cause us to forget.
Each of us is attracted to different aspects of nature. Try being mindful of how the sun feels on your back, the movement of the wind through your hair, the song of the bird outside your window. If you can’t get outside to de-stress, try downloading nature sounds or purchasing a CD to listen to inside. Open the car window. Notice the sunset as you drive home from work. What in nature really speaks to you?
