The Benefits of Nature on Mental Health

Many people enjoy the great outdoors, whether it be hiking, fishing, sports, or any other outdoor activity. While these activities are fun, they are also important for our mental health beyond just having a good time. Spending time in nature helps to ground and relax us and has been shown to reduce symptoms associated with many mental health conditions.

Take Time to Connect

When venturing into nature for mental health benefits, the activity is less important than the connection. For example: One could spend a whole weekend camping but if all they do is worry about their itinerary and the work that’s waiting for them after the weekend, they might feel more stressed than when they left. Alternatively, if someone only had ten minutes to go outside and just spent it in the backyard admiring and noticing their trees they could get a lot of benefit from even a short time outside.

Finding Awe in Nature

Awe is a sense of wonder and amazement which can often be found in nature. Whether it’s taking in the majesty of a forest of redwoods or taking the time to admire the tenacity of dandelions popping up through concrete, finding awe in nature can be powerful. If you’re not a nature person, awe works for anything, infrastructure, people, shows. Taking the time to really notice and appreciate something that inspires awe in you and noting why you find it awe inspiring is what gives us a mindful break from our worries.

Over this weekend, take time to figure out what inspires awe in you, big and small. Then find time to spend with whatever you identified and allow yourself to focus on whatever you have chosen. If you have difficulty with this or want more guidance in how to better develop your mental health and mindfulness skills, you can schedule an appointment at burnoutpreventiontherapy.com and we can make a plan to help you meet your mental health goals.